They say that revenge is best served cold

Can Sam Tomkins help England to victory?

And cold it will be served if England can overpower arguably the most dominant force in any international sport on a chilly evening at Leeds’ Elland Road Stadium. Such alien temperatures for the Aussie squad will hopefully play into the hands of an England team who will need as much luck to fall their way as possible.

After such a resounding victory over the world champions last Saturday and a valiant effort against Australia the week prior, it is striking that Australia start the match as such clear favourites. Furthermore, Australia’s defence against Wales on Sunday was somewhat suspect which only supports the claim that the outcome of this match is clearly not a foregone conclusion. Australia conceding many more tries than had been anticipated. England on the other hand produced one of their most complete performances in recent times against the Kiwis on Saturday. A defence which only leaked one try in eighty minutes against the world’s number one team deserves much commendation.

It was not just the rugged defence that was so impressive but also the manner in which McNamara’s men did not seem at all riled by New Zealand’s aggressive approach towards the match. England’s game-breaker Sam Tomkins was starting to look ever the seasoned international, not retaliating to some cheap high shots, something he might have done earlier on in his career. New boy Rangi Chase also managed to keep his cool after some illegal tackling and much to the delight of the passionate crowd, England went on to take full advantage. Such professionalism will need to be exercised once more if England want to claim the Four Nations Title. Australia should prove to be a much tougher nut to crack as they demonstrated only days ago.

For Australia, making his last ever performance in a rugby jersey on Saturday will be talisman and long serving captain Darren Lockyer. If Australia needed any extra incentive to get another one over on the ‘pommys’ in their own back yard then this it. A player who has steered his country to a whole array of trophies has been a permanent thorn in the sides of England and New Zealand over the last decade and the former will need to ensure that the Australian lynchpin is not given any time or space with ball in hand. The teams remain largely unchanged from the fixture at Wembley except Australia will be without their full back Billy Slater. England under the direction of Kevin Sinfield must look to exert as much pressure as possible on the not so adept full-back Darius Boyd.

It is hard to remember a time when England have had a better chance to put an end to the domination which the Kangaroos have exercised over the rest of the world and England find themselves eighty minutes from their first piece of silverware in living memory. If the men in white produce the same sterling performances as they have done in the last month however, then this dream could well become a reality.

Whatever the outcome we are going to have new 4 nations champions. This is England vs Australia. It is going to be an absolute cracker.

This week I am going to tip the greatest player ever to sign off from his illustrious career with a try. Skybet.com offers 9/4 that Darren Lockyer will score at anytime.

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