England expect Hardaker to lead charge against the world champions

The England coach, Steve McNamara, saw enough in the romp against France last weekend to send out the same team against the infinitely stronger Kiwis tomorrow.

McNamara has named an unchanged 19 for the game at the KC Stadium in Hull, with every indication that the 17 he actually uses will be the same as well.

What was potentially the trickiest selection choice he had to make was settled for him this week, when Sam Tomkins was ruled out for the whole series with a recurrence of the knee injury that hampered him in his second season with the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL.

That means a clear run at full-back for Leeds’ Zak Hardaker, who might well have been the more obvious choice in any event, given the consistent form that brought him the Man of Steel award as the outstanding player of the English season.

Hardaker was unusually quiet last week, possibly because the French defensive line had already been breached before he had a chance to get involved. Much more will be needed from him today.

McNamara probably did not start with John Bateman in mind as his left centre. However, he played so well there against France that he became another selection that made itself.

Gareth Widdop and George Williams did enough to be retained at half-back, while the hooker rotation appears settled, with Josh Hodgson starting and James Roby coming on as things start to open up a little. All in all, it is an unusually settled England team.

McNamara said of the effort against France: “We did well. There’s room for improvement, of course, and we’ll be under much more pressure and intensity this week.

“It’s about being able to perform to the same level even though the pressure is on. We’re looking forward to that challenge.”

On the face of it, New Zealand’s world champions are vulnerable in the first of this three-Test series, with other games to come in London and Wigan over the next two Saturdays.

Six of the players who beat England and went on to defeat Australia in the final of the Four Nations in Wellington a year ago are missing through injury, including Shaun Johnston, the scrum-half who was arguably the world’s best player until he broke his ankle in July.

open image in gallery

Manu Vatuvei, the immensely powerful winger who has tormented a series of English teams, is another the hosts will not have to worry about this time, thanks to a shoulder injury.

The Kiwis, though, have developed a valuable knack of putting unfamiliar names on the teamsheet and them turning out to belong to players just as gifted, or nearly so.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, for instance, had hardly registered as an international player last year; this time, in his natural position of full-back, he looms as one of the main dangers to England. He should, at least, be no surprise to McNamara, who has worked with him extensively in his role as an assistant coach with the Sydney Roosters.

On the evidence of last weekend’s vigorous hit-out against the Leeds Rhinos, a major threat to England will come from the two Kiwi hookers, their co-captain, Issac Luke, and the shock weapon coming off the bench, Kodi Nikorima.

They might be short of a few of their big names, but if Stephen Kearney’s depleted side are allowed to build any momentum from dummy-half, they could become very difficult – or even impossible – to beat.