League: Kiwi twin try-scorer unfazed by head injury

Kiwi Jason Nightingale needed stitches between his eyes after a head clash with England centre Dan Sarginson during the Four Nations match in Dunedin on Saturday. Pihoto / Getty Images

Kiwis twin try-scorer Jason Nightingale was in good spirits following their hard-fought 16-14 Four Nations win over England in Dunedin, despite nursing a nasty head wound.

The right-wing scored the opening try in just the second minute of play but had to leave the field soon after when a head clash with England centre Dan Sarginson left him requiring stitches for a split right between his eyes.

The 28-year-old finisher quickly returned to the action and was on hand to collect a Dean Whare pass for his second four-pointer on the 30-minute mark - his fourth of the tournament so far - to help the Kiwis to a 12-8 half-time lead.

"Definitely, it was a very tough win and a great one to be a part of, against a great team," Nightingale said.

"I was pretty happy to be on the end of a couple, a kick from Shauny and a pass from Deano. It is pretty easy to get on the end of those sorts of plays in big games and I'm very excited to get across the line a couple of times.

"We fought hard for that one and I think our defence at the end of the day was what got us the win."

Nightingale admitted the collision had left him a little dazed but he passed the requisite concussion tests and was fine to resume playing while he also hoped Sarginson was in good health.

"I wasn't concussed at any stage. Getting knocked right in the middle of the head, I got a little bit of blurred vision but it wasn't too bad. I knew where I was and knew what was going on.

"I felt a bit of blood dripping down but nothing too bad. It was just the cut that gets annoying and you've just got to block that out and get my little headband on and get strapped up.

"It's just frustrating but lucky that I didn't get concussed and I hope that the centre from the other team is okay too."

All of the game's six tries were scored by the wingers, with Manu Vatuvei and Josh Charnley both crossing, while Nightingale's opposite Ryan Hall also claimed a double.

Both players should have finished with three tries, with Nightingale dropping an awkward pass from Shaun Johnson with the line open in the shadows of half-time, and the strongly built Hall fumbling as he reached out to plant the ball down soon after the resumption.

"Yeah, he's a big boy and got one up against us. I thought we did a pretty good job of containing him but he still did his job and made a lot of good carries for them.

"Luckily I didn't have to deal with him one-on-one too often and other than the couple times he got around us we handled him pretty well."

Having won all three of their round robin games, the Kiwis were pleased to secure their passage through to next Saturday's tournament final in Wellington.

They now face Australia at Westpac Stadium after the Kangaroos saw off Samoa in the final grop-lay match in Wollongong.

"There's a bit of relief there, we don't have to sit there and watch the game with too many nerves and we know what's ahead of us, and the job that we've got to do to put ourselves in the best position to win the competition.

"We haven't played in Wellington since 2010 so it's great to play on our home turf and we're really looking forward to that. Whoever it may be that we play next week, I'm sure it will be a great battle."