Kiwis better beware Lions revival
November 12th 2008 07:49
New Zealand’s rugby league credibility is on the line when the Kiwis play England. The Lions have shown nothing in this rugby league world cup, rivalling the efforts of their national rugby union side in last years Union world cup. In the end though, it mean’t nothing as England found themselves eighty minutes away from lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy against South Africa.
So could history repeat itself against the Kiwis? History suggests it will.
England have been the disappointments of this league world cup, where they were unconvincing against Papua New Guinea, dreadful against Australia and lacklustre against New Zealand.
Indeed if the Kumals had a professional league structure back home, and most of their players played in the NRL, England would have been packing their bags on Sunday night.
But here they are one game away from a world cup final, having only won the one match and getting hammered in the other two.
Although it is unlikely that they will be beat Australia if they made it that far, their presence in a semi-final against the Kiwis is being felt across the Tasman.
Without having played well, England were ten points in front at halftime in last weeks encounter against the Kiwis.
It took around 60 minutes and four tries from Manu Vatuvei to seal a result against a team that has done nothing so far.
Be rest assured though, England’s attitude will change in the semi-final.
As evidenced in last years rugby world cup, the English made it out of the group stage and began a whole new competition. A death race to the rugby union world cup.
Despite the horror form they showed in the group stages, culminating in a 36-0 thrashing against South Africa, England threw that form out the window as they posted victories over France and Australia to find themselves in the most unlikely of finals.
The same situation confronts the English twelve months later, albeit in a different tournament.
There are now no second chances from here on in and England know that. Their attitude will rise and New Zealand better be ready for an ambush.
Key English players Leon Pryce and Adrian Morley and a host of others are yet to fire. But the semi-finals of a world cup are a perfect setting to do so.
One feels that England are now primed for a world cup assault against the Kiwis. Its up to the men in black to counter recent history and deal out some punishment of their own.
If they don’t, the lions will once again find themselves in a grand final of a major tournament without having earned the right to be in it.
Don’t be surprised if it happens.
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