What: Four Nations match
Who: Kiwis vs England
When: Saturday, 8 November – 6.00pm (AEDT)
Where: Forsyth-Barr Stadium, Dunedin
I can watch it on: GEM
What they did last time
The Kiwis were pounded and put through the ringer in a 14-12 win over Samoa in Whangarei last Saturday. They trailed for most of the game but a Shaun Kenny-Dowall try in the corner sealed the win with a couple of minutes left on the clock.
England were unlucky in a 16-12 loss to the Kangaroos in Melbourne on Sunday. The Poms held a lead with 20 minutes left but Ben Hunt was brilliant off the bench for Australia. A controversial last minute TMO decision when Ryan Hall looked to have got a finger to the ball in goal consigned England to a loss.
Last time they met
At Wembley last year in the Rugby League World Cup semi-final – and it was one of the best games of international rugby league ever.
England had a lead with seconds remaining but Shaun Johnson stepped through some tiring defence to level the scores. His conversion after the siren sent the Kiwis to the final.
What you need to know
Interesting game this one. You ready? Ok.
If the Kiwis win or draw, they’re into the Four Nations final. If New Zealand loses by 10 or more, England leapfrog them on the table and the Kiwis will rely on Samoa stopping Australia clawing back the points differential (currently NZ is +20 and Australia is -14).
England needs to win to make the final, pure and simple. But even if they only win by a narrow margin, a big Australia win over Samoa could see the English miss out.
If England loses to New Zealand, they’ll be praying for Samoa to narrowly beat Australia to get a spot in the final in Wellington next week.
Hooker Issac Luke and winger Manu Vatuvei returned to the Kiwis side last week. Kieran Foran took a heavy hit to his ribs and stayed keeled over on the turf for a while but is a tough bugger. We’re sure he’ll play this weekend.
Reasons to watch
Like the All Blacks-England match later in the night, it’s gonna be a humdinger. England were desperately unlucky last week, will still feel the semi-final loss and are intent on making the final.
Are rare rugby league match in Dunedin should be well attended by both sets of fans.
Reasons to turn away
The Kiwis were off the pace against Samoa. If they aren’t ready and firing, they could easily lose by more than 10 and see a once sure finals berth slip away.
Final instructions
This match could go anywhere. Both sides were pushed by Samoa while New Zealand played out of their skins to beat Australia. The English could’ve done the same thing to the Roos last weekend but couldn’t maintain the rage for 80 minutes.
Both sets of forwards are big. And scary. Both sides have world class wingers in Hall and Vatuvei. Both have halves combinations with grittiness, flair and NRL premierships (Gareth Widdop and Kieran Foran). Both fullbacks are creative and explosive.
Go out and bash each other!
Our prediction
New Zealand by 4.
