England 22 New Zealand 32

Ian Laybourn

November 15, 2008

England's Keith Senior is halted by two New Zealand players

ENGLAND'S World Cup campaign ended as it started with an inept defensive performance.

They never recovered from a disastrous start to the first semi-final at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium where they conceded three tries in the first 23 minutes and, in all, have conceded a staggering 142 points in their four matches.

“I don’t think it was nerves - we were just poor in that first half,” coach Tony Smith told Sky Sports 2.

“Ten errors out of 15 sets - you cannot win games of rugby league like that.

“We did show commitment and desire and all those things. But you are playing catch-up all the time, and it costs you a lot of energy.”

New Zealand pulled the English defence out of position with alarming ease to create tries for Lance Hohaia, Sam Perrett and Jerome Ropati and race into an early 16-0 lead.

The Kiwis managed to recover a 16-point deficit to win 36-24 in their 'dress rehearsal' a week earlier, but it was a task beyond Tony Smith's misfiring side.

They briefly gave themselves hope by carving out tries for skipper Jamie Peacock and Danny McGuire, with Rob Burrow adding a goal, to trail 16-10 at half-time.

But an error-strewn performance continued after the break as England fumbled their way to another depressing defeat.

Bronson Harrison, Ropati and Benji Marshall added further tries for New Zealand, rendering McGuire's second touchdown and Martin Gleeson's effort irrelevant.

There were few redeeming features for England, although Peacock led from the front as ever and loose forward Rob Purdham was heroic in an otherside woeful defensive effort.

England will now pack their bags and prepare for an early return home while New Zealand await the winners of tomorrow's second semi between Australia and Fiji.

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telsa73 (15/11/2008 at 11:57)

Super league isnt so super then.A pretty poor campaign throughout the tournament and it has shown that some of our superstars are little more than average players in a mediocre competition.Super league maybe more competitive since Wigan dominated our domestic competitions,but the standards at the very top are nowhere near as high.Where are the Hanleys,Gregorys and Edwards in this current crop of players?.Too many players in this squad are over the hill,Senior and Wellens,some have never been good enough,Calderwood,Westwood and Sinfield and Gardner?..is he a joke rugby player?..he is a liability.Very few plus points,Roby looks like class,Morley is still our most explosive forward,Gleeson improved as the games went by and Wigans decision to let Micky Higham go looks sillier by the week.Its time to cut down on mediocre imports and give more british youngsters the opportunity to play at first team level and if they are top class they need to go and play in Australia at their peak to develop even further..super league simply doesnt test our top players out week in week out Until this happens we are going to be in the international wilderness.

bobbydazzler (15/11/2008 at 12:01)

we have far too many ordinary foreign players over here taking up valuable squad places of up and coming british players.

there should be a maximum of 2 overseas players in each super league team. no qualification by years they have lived here. gb players should ber born here or have gb parents.

below super league max of 1 overseas player per club.

26 years on from the all conquering 1982 aussies and we are still as far behind.

super league is all hype australia could field 5 sides to beat our best.

tameside mark, hyde (15/11/2008 at 18:57)

They have played like a pub team, an absolute disgrace.
i wouldnt let this shower back into the country, i hope when they do arrive home they get the kitchen sink thrown at them, rugby league is dead for me

ron f (15/11/2008 at 21:17)

hope tony smith gets a sat nav for christmas he will be able to find M5 5FQ then

Joey Anglin, Oldham (15/11/2008 at 21:49)

I've just read Richard lewis? has been singing the praises of Tony Smith.Great. Why is this campaign not the most embarrassing
episode in the history of the British game? The coach for me was pathetic in just about every aspect of his role, but this is probably the least of our problems. Make no mistake the British game is at its lowest ever, and if the men at the top can't see it, it's time to wrap up. We now, weather we like it or not have a national side that has more money and resourses than every other country.Obviously Mr Lewis cant see that impoverished Island nations are now on a par with us and the next 5 years will see us behind a couple of them." Keep on doing what you always do, and you'll get what you always get" The fools running this game are a total disgrace. If you don't have men at the top with footballing knowledge, who live the game with a passion your wasting your time.
I have a dream.
New C.E.O.
Overseas players max 3 to a club.
Forget full time professionalism, every player must have a real job. New anchormen on TV. Australian Gus Gould to ad a new dimention to the game, constructive criticism. The amateur game to be restructured to be part of the big picture, with clubs that have achieved success in building an organisation to be recognised. Why do areas like Oldham have successful junior sides but no affiliation with the Town team. The Australian model should be followed. I could go on but whats the point.
As a final comment about the tour id like to ask this question as I was left dumfounded with what I saw. Why with the most disjointed backline ever seen, beeing undone with the simplest of attacking moves does Tony Smith insist on placing the dominutive Burrows in the centres compounding the issue. Got me beat.
Enoughs Enough.

mackerinn.z, warrington (16/11/2008 at 10:45)

How bad is gardener?

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