England Showing Title Potential At Rugby League World Cup – Rugby League World Cup 2021 host England has made a strong start to the tournament and hopes are rising that the men in white can lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
With the likes of reigning champions Australia and New Zealand to compete with, it will be no easy task but under captain Sam Tomkins, England is showing potential to cause an upset on the biggest stage this winter.
England Hits The Ground Running
There were plenty of suggestions England could come unstuck in their delayed tournament opener against Samoa at St James’ Park in Newcastle. The Samoan squad is littered with talented NRL stars, who would have been relishing the prospect of spoiling the party in the first game of the competition. England, which is +650 in the Rugby League World Cup odds to win the tournament, avoided getting stuck in an arm wrestle with the Samoans and ran out comfortable 60-6 winners. Head coach Shaun Wane admitted after the full-time whistle that his side was far from the end product but even the disciplined Lancastrian could offer up a smile after a comprehensive win for his side against an outsider for the title.
Despite making changes for their second game of the pool stages against France, England also managed to put tries on the board in a 42-18 victory over Les Bleus in Bolton. The victory saw England not only test out new combinations in the side but also secure their place in the knockout stages of the competition. The win did come at a price with centre Kallum Watkins suffering a head injury and he was forced from the field. Wane did later provide more positive news that the Salford Red Devils star’s tournament was not over and he would hopefully be back at some point in the knockout stages.
Wane Gives England Freedom
England boss Wane has not had long to work with his squad following the completion of the Super League season. Stars who ply their trade in the NRL in Australia and New Zealand also have not spent long in the England camp, with some earning their first call-ups to the national side. In a bid to get all players on the same page, there could be a temptation to overtrain the players and work too closely to a regimented playbook.
Wane has insisted the message from the first day of training camp has been to allow the players to go out and express themselves on the field. Of course, there is a structure to England’s game and those players who have worked with Wane before at the Wigan Warriors will know how he likes the game to be played. However, Wane says he has given the players a “rough game plan” and has then encouraged them to bring their individual skills to the table.
The philosophy has certainly worked in the early stages of the tournament and England supporters are waiting to see how far it can take the host nation in this World Cup.
