Graham Lowe: A chance to prove Champion status

Benji Marshall and New Zealand will be looking to push past England on Sunday. Photo / Getty Images

Sunday morning's Four Nation Tournament clash against England is one of the most important games in the NZRL's history.

The Kiwis are the World Champions and hold that title at least until the World Cup in 2011.

However the uniqueness of the Four Nations gives the other major players - England and Australia - an opportunity to try to dull the glow of the Kiwis' sensational World Cup achievement.

Bragging rights are important and at this moment the Kiwis have plenty to brag about.

But in just 80 minutes against England the gloss could go off the World Cup the Kiwis proudly hold.

The Kiwis have to win to make the final of this tournament. But it is also crucial for Stephen Kearney's men to prove they are a consistent team.

In the past two weeks they have played exceptionally well against Australia and were good against France.

Good won't be enough against England this weekend.

England have plenty to prove, because at an international level they talk like Tarzan but play like Jane.

This is incredible when you consider that since the World Club Challenge Trophy started back in 1987, most of the wins have gone to the English clubs.

There can be a number of reasons for their under-performance at international level, but for me I think they have had a few pretty ordinary coaches at different times.

Tony Smith, their present coach, is very good and has a fine club record.

However some of their coaches from the past couldn't have coached a choko vine over an outside dunny.

But this is 2009 and a different ball game.

Like New Zealand, England must win to get to the final, no second chances.

But, unfortunately for them they are running into a Kiwi outfit that will field a team which in my view is the toughest in this competition. I don't only mean tough to beat, I mean physically tough.

England look to have a skilful set of forwards and they don't lack size. And their backs while struggling in the halves are all smart and good on their feet.

But the Kiwis' forwards have skill, size and venom, and a willingness for the tough stuff. This is the challenge for the English forwards.

It was quite the opposite during the ill-fated 2007 Kiwi campaign in the UK. In that series Great Britain identified in the first few minutes of the first test that the Kiwi forwards were soft. After that it was game set and match to the Poms.

In an era when much of the focus is wrapped around the importance of the players wearing Nos 6 and 7, it was a timely reminder that the forwards and their toughness at test-match level is critical.

Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens knows this and following what should be a walkover for his side against France over the weekend expects a rugged final at Elland Road against the winner of the Kiwis-England match.

He has already told the media earlier in the week his team has had to put up with "illegal garbage" from England and the Kiwis.

What he is saying is his forwards are struggling to match the physical onslaught both England and the Kiwis have applied against them.

But that's his worry. The only concern for the Kiwis is to put England out of business. Looking at the teams player for player, I suspect England have the edge in the skill department - but the Kiwis aren't far behind.

But the Kiwis take a psychological advantage into the match because the big stage of international league seems to have intimidated England over the past 30 years.

This is strange because most of the top English players get to play in atmospheres better and bigger than anything the NRL can offer.

But put them out in a test arena and they seem to freeze. That is why Australia put 26 points on them in the first half last week.

England have a "monkey on their back" when it comes to international success and Tony Smith needs to get rid of it this week. If not he could finish up on the same scrap heap of ex-coaches the ERL seem to have a permanent lease on.

The Kiwis however need to prove little else other than consistency.

If Stephen Kearney can repeat the 80-minute onslaught the Kiwis delivered to Australia a couple of weeks ago, they will be extremely hard to beat.

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