Rugby League Four Nations 2009 Preview
France Step up to the Plate, Australia Seeks Revenge
The international season starts with the best national sides facing off in an expanded competition, which includes the French for the first time. Each team will play each other once. Games will be played in England and France, with the table toppers going forward to the deciding encounter. The fixtures are:
- England Versus France Fri 23rd Oct 2009 Kick Off - 2000 hrs Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
- Australia Vs New Zealand Sat 24th Oct 2009 Kick Off - 2000 hrs Twickenham Stoop, London
- England Vs Australia Sat 31st Oct 2009 Kick Off - 1430 hrs DW Stadium, Wigan
- France Vs New Zealand Sat 31st Oct 2009 Kick Off – 1700 (GMT), 1800 (CET) Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse
- England Vs New Zealand Sat 7th Nov 2009 Kick Off - 1800 hrs Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield
- France Vs Australia Sat 7th Nov 2009 Kick Off – 1430 (GMT) 15:30 (CET), Charlety Stadium, Paris
- The Final Sat 14th Nov 2009 Kick Off - 1930 hrs Elland Road, Leeds
Australian Kangaroos Looking for Revenge
Rugby League World Cup 2008 holders New Zealand will face Tri-Nation Champions Australia as the green and golds try to revenge their defeat in 2008. New Zealand themselves were defeated in extra time by the Aussies in the final of the last tri-nations in 2006, Kiwi hearts broken by a Darren Lockyer golden try. The trans-tasman encounter promises another classic.
France Face England Desperate to Establish their Credibility
Les tricolores face tough questions on their ability to compete with the big boys, having had a disappointing world cup, whilst England look for momentum before facing their arch-nemesis Australia. Both teams are short of confidence. England will be looking for a final spot as a mark of progress, which will mean defeating the kiwis, who beat them 32-22 in the world cup semi-final. The French must hope that scores are respectable and that they have a chance to display their trade mark flair.
England and Australia Compete for Ashes
The Englishmen will be desperate to show their serious credentials when they face their oldest opponents in the Kangaroos. Both teams have agreed to put the Ashes trophy on the line, usually competed for over a three game series, which they have fought over since 1908. As ever Australia will be favourites, but the English will always raise their game in front of 25,000 fans at the DW Stadium. The key match up of the competition.
France Look to Past Glory
The French team are more vulnerable to injuries impacting on their competitiveness then the others. If they pick some of the France based Australians, who qualify through residency, they will have a more solid look. However they have some talented players and a fearsome set of forwards. This whole tournament will be a benchmark for them. The Kiwis, with so many NRL based players, are a classy outfit and even with injuries looking to deplete their squad they will be too strong for the French.
Kiwis Match England
The most evenly matched encounter of the whole tournament and the hardest to call. England have a very good record against New Zealand at home, but will be eager to avoid complacency. Depending on earlier results, this could be do or die for both teams.
Green and Golds too Much for Les Tricolores
The most uneven contest in the Four Nations will provide a lot of tries, but mainly from Australia. The Kangaroos will draw players from fifteen full time professional clubs, whilst the French have one plus ten semi-pro teams. This gulf will be obvious on the pitch, but the French will get a real idea of the task in front of them to become a competitive team. Its a long road back to the glory of the 1950's when Puig Albert was leading them to victory in successive tours in Australia.
Australia Favourites, England to Challenge
The short, sharp nature of the tournament is capable of throwing up surprise results. Both England and New Zealand can beat the Aussies in a single game, and meet each other in the final. However with the Ashes on the line and revenge for the world cup in mind its hard to see past the powerful Kangaroos. France will look to show what that have got but will be concentrating on the future.
England Rugby League Shirt
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Australian Kangaroo Team
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Albert Baskerville Kiwi RL Founder
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