England v Exiles: Teams
England captain Jamie Peacock wants to set the record straight against the Exiles at Langtree Park on Saturday.
Last Updated: 15/06/12 3:50pm
England coach Steve McNamara and captain Jamie Peacock believe their team are well equipped to make amends for last year's agonising defeat when they tackle the Exiles at Langtree Park on Saturday.
Peacock says the England players have painful memories after watching Wigan's Samoan centre George Carmont snatch a 16-12 victory with the last play of the match at Headingley 12 months ago.
"I remember how disappointed the dressing room was," Peacock said. "It was one of the most disappointed dressing rooms I've ever been in.
"We want to put that right and it's time for us to do it on Saturday."
McNamara was delighted with the intensity of last year's match, arguing it helped prepare his team for the end-of-season Four Nations campaign, and is hoping for a similar encounter, only with a different result.
"It hurt that we got beat," McNamara said. "Players invested a whole lot into that game, as did the staff, and we certainly want to put that right.
"It was the type of game that was required. It was more intense than any other game - the ball was in play longer and there were more plays than in any other game in Super League throughout the whole year.
"It was the type of game you need going into a Test series at the end of the year."
England are much changed 12 months on, with just six survivors from the inaugural game, but Peacock believes they are as strong, if not stronger, with the emergence of outstanding prospects like Josh Charnley and Lee Mossop, the two Wigan youngsters who will make their debuts.
Injuries
Carmont will not be able to repeat his match-winning efforts, having been forced out through injury along with his Wigan team-mate Brett Finch, while last year's man of the match Rangi Chase is now in the opposite camp, having switched his allegiance to England.
But Exiles coach Daniel Anderson, who has taken over from Brian McClennan, is confident the overseas representative side can be just as competitive.
Despite the loss of Finch, Anderson is able to pair together two in-form half-backs in Scott Dureau (Catalan Dragons) and Thomas Leuluai (Wigan Warriors) and he believes the Exiles have a pack of forwards to fear.
"Thomas has international experience, including a Rugby League World Cup final, but this is Scott's first representative team so he is really excited," Anderson said.
"The best thing for them is that they are playing behind a big pack. As a half-back you love to have big men in front of you.
"The game is a battle of the forwards and of momentum and, if you win momentum, your halves can be creative and threatening in their play. We've got a strong pack and indeed a strong bench.
"We're confident that we have a team who can dig in and do well in the emotional component of the game.
"We've certainly got the talent. There are a lot of boys here who are keen to showcase what they've got.
"They're from different clubs at different places in the Super League table but they are all still top rugby league players and I think they can show that for the Exiles."
Injuries to Brett Hodgson and Setamaita Sa forced Anderson into two late changes to his line-up.
Hull KR full-back Shannon McDonnell has been drafted straight in to the starting line-up in Hodgson's place, while Huddersfield's David Fa'alogo moves from the bench to the back of the pack. Leuluai will lead the side in Hodgson's absence.
England: S Tomkins (Wigan); J Charnley (Wigan), C Ablett (Leeds), R Atkins (Warrington), R Hall (Leeds); K Sinfield (Leeds), R Chase (Castleford); E Crabtree (Huddersfield), J Roby (St Helens), J Peacock (Leeds, capt), G Hock (Wigan), D Tickle (Hull), S O'Loughlin (Wigan)
Replacements: R Burrow (Leeds), G Carvell (Warrington), L Mossop (Wigan), J Jones-Buchanan (Leeds)
Exiles: S McDonnell (Hull KR); J Monaghan (Warrington), S Soliola (St Helens), D Millard (Catalan), F Meli (St Helens); T Leuluai (Wigan, capt), S Dureau (Catalan); T Puletua (St Helens), L Hohaia (St Helens), J Lima (Wigan), W Manu (Hull), T Waterhouse (Warrington), D Fa'alogo (Huddersfield)
Replacements (from): A Laffranchi (St Helens), A Kaufusi (London), D Faiumu (Huddersfield), E Lauaki (Wigan)