Four Nations: England v. Australia
England will field an unchanged seventeen for tonight’s Gillette Four Nations final against Australia at Elland Road.
Tony Smith has chosen to stick by the team that beat New Zealand 20-12 at Huddersfield last week.
Australia will give Luke Lewis his first start after the forward was on the bench or wins over England and France.
England coach Smith has not ruled out making any changes to his starting thirteen, but any players brought into the starting line up will be from that seventeen.
Kevin Sinfield will remain at hooker, while Sam Tomkins and Kyle Eastmond remain in partnership at half back.
Chris Bridge has again been preferred to Lee Smith, meaning that Smith’s last game in rugby league will be the 26-16 defeat to Australia at Wigan.
The inclusion of Lewis is the only change to Australia’s starting thirteen, but coach Tim Sheens has named six players who could be given a place on the bench.
It is possible that Sheens will have four forwards on the bench if Elland Road is hit by rain.
Gillette Four Nations Final
England v. Australia
Elland Road, Leeds
S. Briscoe (Hull KR), P. Fox (Hull KR), C. Bridge (Warrington), M. Shenton (Castleford), R. Hall (Leeds), S. Tomkins (Wigan), K. Eastmond (St Helens), A. Morley (Warrington), K. Sinfield (Leeds), J. Graham (St Helens), J. Peacock (Leeds, capt.), G. Ellis (Wests), S. Burgess (Bradford)
Subs: J. Roby (St Helens), E. Crabtree (Huddersfield), B. Westwood (Warrington), J. Wilkin (St Helens)
B. Slater (Melbourne); J. Hayne (Parramatta), G. Inglis (Melbourne), J. Hodges (Brisbane), B. Morris (St George-Illawarra); D. Lockyer (Brisbane, capt.), J. Thurston (North Queensland); P. Civoniceva (Penrith), C. Smith (Melbourne), B. Hannant (Canterbury), L. Lewis (Penrith), P. Gallen (Cronulla), N. Hindmarsh (Parramatta)
Subs from: D. Shillington (Canberra), S. Thaiday (Brisbane), A. Watmough (Manly), K. Gidley (Newcastle), M. Jennings (Penrith), B. White (Melbourne)
Ref: L. Williamson (NZ)