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2014 Four Nations: Sam Tomkins hopes England can take advantage of Australia's slip

Sam Tomkins of England celebrates a try against Samoa
Image: Sam Tomkins: Starred in England's win over Samoa last weekend

Full-back Sam Tomkins hopes England can take advantage of the “wounded animal” that is Australia when they lock horns in the Four Nations on Saturday.

Steve McNamara’s England know victory over the Kangaroos would knock their oldest rivals out of the Four Nations competition, but to do so they will have to get the better of Australia for first time since 2006.

The success enjoyed eight years ago was a rare victory over the world champions and a repeat in Melbourne would put the current crop of players in esteemed company.

And, for added inspiration, the 17 players selected will wear a specially designed heritage shirt commemorating the jersey worn by the Northern Union side which beat Australia in the 'Rorke's Drift Test' of 1914.

"I think all the lads are aware of the history rugby league has got. Every time we have the badge on our chest we are playing for a lot of people back at home and people before us," full-back Sam Tomkins said. "It's a great way to remember."

A British side led by Harold Wagstaff won the 1914 clash 14-6, with the game being reduced to 11-a-side owing to a shocking list of injuries. The British players were hailed for their bravery and the game was subsequently named in honour of the British troops that had prevailed at Rorke's Drift in Natal.

Australia are a wounded animal but they have a lot of fight. They are coming off the back of a loss that will inspire them even more to do their best to beat us.
Sam Tomkins

Australia’s 17-match winning streak was brought to a grinding halt on Saturday as New Zealand gained revenge for their Rugby League World Cup final defeat at Old Trafford last year with a comprehensive 30-12 victory and now Tomkins is desperate to add to their woes.

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Wounded animal

"Australia are a wounded animal but they have a lot of fight," New Zealand Warriors back Tomkins added.

"They are coming off the back of a loss that will inspire them even more to do their best to beat us. We'll be prepared and it is exciting - it is a chance for a lot of lads to beat Australia on their first tour.

"We want to knock them out - straight out (of the tournament). We're going to Melbourne to win - we're not going to compete for 60 minutes like we have done. We're going and taking the win."

If England are to overcome their adversaries they will need to iron out some of the inconsistences highlighted in their hard-fought 32-26 win over Samoa.

"I'd say we were good in patches, average in patches," Tomkins admitted.

"At times we lacked focus in defence, which meant they scored 26 points. It's too many, but we have already reviewed it and we need to improve.

"We fully expected Samoa to come at us for 80 minutes and they did. It's a side littered with good, NRL players. We made it hard."

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