League: Fingers crossed for foul weather

Danny McGuire. Photo / Getty Images

It is saying something that England were hoping for dreadful weather in the Four Nations to enhance their prospects.

They had a poor World Cup, which included a record 52-4 defeat to Australia, and they lurched to an unconvincing 34-12 win over France in their opening match. Little wonder that captain Jamie Peacock was hoping for foul weather to blunt Australia and New Zealand.

Coach Tony Smith retained just nine players from the World Cup for the Four Nations. It's a young squad whose average age is 24.

They weren't expected to beat Australia this morning, especially with the Kangaroos smarting over their 20-20 draw with the Kiwis. Next weekend's match with New Zealand will likely decide who will face Australia in the final at Leeds on November 15 (NZT).

The Kiwis won't have it all their own way. They will find a rugged, bruising forward pack waiting for them, with the likes of Adrian Morley, Jamie Peacock, Gareth Ellis and Sam Burgess.

But the backline is an unknown quantity.

Five-eighth Danny McGuire is the only survivor from the side beaten by New Zealand in their World Cup semifinal. His 21 test caps were more than the combined total of the seven other backs selected for the opening match against France.

"We're representing Super League and everyone in rugby league in this country," McGuire said. "The World Cup was definitely one of the low-lights of my career.

"We don't want to let ourselves down again - we want to show that we're a good team and that Super League's a good competition and we can perform with the best players in the world."

Smith, like Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney, had one eye on the next World Cup when picking his squad.

"It's time to bring some fresh faces in," Smith said.

"We picked a lot of new names for the mid-year game in France and it gave us a fresh feel. They deserve this chance. This series is about the future but it's about now as well and we feel they're ready now."

England were unconvincing against France in the tournament opener but, at the risk of being left with egg on face, it's hard to see England coping with Australia and New Zealand.

If they did upset Australia this morning, conspiracy theories were rife, with Australia's Jarryd Hayne suggesting England might deliberately lose to New Zealand next weekend if it meant avoiding the Kangaroos in the final.