Rugby League World Cup Betting: With pace, power and spirit, England can end Aussie dominance

Internationals / George Riley / 21 October 2008 / Leave a Comment

In a World Cup where anything less than a final appearance will represent failure, there is a terrific team spirit in the England camp, reports George Riley.

Having spoken to a couple of England players from their Gold Coast camp this week I can tell the team spirit, the anticipation, and the excitement is building ahead of the opener against Papua New Guinea.

The format of this tournament is such that England simply have to make the semi-finals, and are [1.67] with Betfair to do so .The players would come home disappointed if they failed to reach the showpiece final.

So to England's key men. The main weapons that Tony Smith will call upon to topple the powerhouse Aussies and Kiwis.

I expect a huge tournament from Leon Pryce. Hated by the Aussies, Pryce caused uproar on his last trip Down Under two years ago by claiming that Blackpool Beach is better than Bondi.

He heads into this year's World Cup playing the best rugby league of his life and he can be the man to help carve the Aussies apart. There's been much talk about who will start at stand-off for England, Pryce or Danny McGuire. McGuire would team up with Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow, but I know coach Tony Smith regards Pryce as the best number six in world rugby so I expect Leon to get the nod.

Other huge performances will come from Man of Steel James Graham, and former Sydney Rooster Adrian Morley...the man sent off inside 12 seconds of a Test match between Great Britain and the Aussies in 2003.

England finally have a powerful and versatile pack to match the Aussies and Kiwis and beat them at their own game. With Kevin Sinfield receiving the international recognition his imperious club form has deserved, Burrow poised to sparkle in the halves as the tournament's smallest player, and fellow Leeds Rhino Gareth Ellis looking to show Australia what it can look forward to when he joins the NRL this season, England have a great chance of disrupting the southern hemisphere dominance.

There's real pace on the wings in Ade Gardner, Lee Smith and Mark Calderwood. Leeds' Grand Final winning coach Brian McClennan reckons Australia's invincible tag has gone and England may never have a better chance. He has not been wrong all season.