Four Nations final - England V Australia.

"Kyle, who?"

That was Jonathan Thurston's reponse when asked by an in-house journalist if he felt intimidated by Sam Thomkins and Kyle Eastmond before the big show down at Elland Road tomorrow evening. After last week's England performance against New Zealand, this comment will only add to the fire burning within the host's camp and bring the squad together as a group. Ultimatly, its a good thing.

In my opinion, tomorrow will see England be provided with their best chance of winning a test series against Australia since Great Britain's chance against a depleated Australian squad in 2003. Australia look a shadow of their former selves and have failed to get out of second gear on a consistant basis throught the tournament. They scraped a draw against the world champions, they sat back in the second half against England at Wigan, and for half an hour France were the better side last week. Its a worry for Tim Sheens who would have been expected to insert some pride into the green and gold jersey after Ricky Stuart lost the world cup last year.

Looking at the team line ups, England remain unchanged from their 20-12 defeat of New Zealand last week, while Australia bring back two familiar names in Billy Slater and Cameron Smith from the France game replacing Kurt Gidley and Robbie Farrah but with the former being named in the 19-man squad. John Morris misses out in favour of Greg Inglis but only the back row has been changed in the starting 13 from the one that faced England two weeks ago. Luke Lewis replaces Anthony Watmough.

And now for the tired old preview that was issued out this time two weeks ago. England CAN beat Australia if the forwards perform. And for forty minutes in Wigan the English forwards did just that. It was the first half which let the side down massivley. With no Lee Smith or Tom Briscoe on an exposed right wing, the figures of Peter Fox and Chris Bridge provide some defensive stability to stop Greg Inglis and that left win threat in green and gold.

With Australia having not convincingly performed on a consistant basis all tournament, England will not have a better chance to beat the old enemy for the first time in 37 years.

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