ENGLAND's Australian coach Tony Smith proudly banged the drum for his adopted country today and predicted a feast of rugby league in Saturday's opening World Cup match against Papua New Guinea.

Smith, who recently became a British citizen, took the opportunity at a civic reception in Townsville to extol the virtues of Super League at a time when the game in Australia is under attack for being predictable and boring.

The criticism of the NRL was led by Michael Hagan in the wake of his resignation as Parramatta coach and echoed by former Australia boss Chris Anderson and ex-Kangaroo captain Brad Fittler.

Smith was delighted to make comparisons between the games in the northern and southern hemispheres and promised an audience of sponsors and civic dignitaries they would witness the best of British at the Dairy Farmers' Stadium on Saturday.

"I think both teams like to play a bit of footie so I expect it to be a pretty open and skilful game," he said.

"We like to take some risk and play what we think is a good brand of rugby league.

"Our crowds are on the increase and our TV viewings are on the increase. The game is pretty healthy at the moment and growing.

"I think a lot of people in Australia like to watch Super League for the entertainment that it brings."

Bold

Smith was less bold in his team selection for the opening match of the 18-game tournament, making just two changes to the side that beat France 56-8 in England's last full international in June.

Lee Smith is preferred to his former Leeds team-mate Mark Calderwood for the vacant left-wing berth while Wigan's Gareth Hock is rewarded for a strong finish to a season dogged by suspension by being handed the second row spot made vacant by injury to Bradford's Sam Burgess.

The only other change is the promotion of St Helens prop James Graham, who will start a match for his country for the first time after five previous appearances as substitute.

Graham, the recently-crowned Man of Steel, displaces veteran front rower Adrian Morley, who finished the season for Warrington with a stomach muscle injury, although Smith has not ruled out making a late change.

"Mozza hasn't played for a while so we'll introduce him a bit later in the game if that's how we finally go," he said.

"James has been sensational this year and probably deserves a starting position. That's how we're going to go at this stage but, if we feel Mozza should start, we may change."

As expected, Leon Pryce gets the vote ahead of Danny McGuire for the stand-off role while the 22-year-old Smith, who has previously represented England at second-tier level in the Federation Shield, will take over from Hull KR winger Peter Fox after a man-of-the-match display in the Grand Final.

"It's always great to hand out a new cap," said the coach. "It's a great honour for Lee and I know he's going to treasure that moment.

Good

"He's been very good at the back end of this year and he deserves his place."

Smith, one of 14 players from the two grand finalists, played full-back for his club at Old Trafford but is happy to revert to the wing, where he will play outside his Rhinos team-mate Keith Senior.

"To represent your country, you'll play anywhere so that's fine by me," he said. "It's in my hands now. I've got to play well and help us get off to a good start to keep my place."

Both captain Jamie Peacock and full-back Paul Wellens made light of the conditions the England team can expect on Saturday.

The team trained in 30-degree temperatures today but Peacock said: "I think we'll be fine. In Perpignan we get to go down to Catalans where it's sometimes warmer than here."

Wellens said: "At the Challenge Cup final this year we played Hull at Wembley and it was stinking hot.

"A few of the guys struggled after that game but we're used to playing in that type of heat. We performed well then so there is no reason why we can't perform well in the heat again." Tweet