Wayne Bennett has confirmed he will make changes to his side for their must‑win Four Nations match against Scotland on Saturday as he casts an eye ahead to the final group game against Australia in London next weekend.
Bennett said he still has to finalise his side for the final group game against the Kangaroos but has a fair idea of who he will select. He will use the game in Coventry on Saturday as an opportunity to play those who have yet to appear for the national side this autumn.
Sam Burgess is expected to be fit despite picking up a knock in training but the vice-captain, James Graham, will miss out because of a knee injury. George Williams and Liam Farrell are the two players most likely to come in, but Bennett warned he will not rotate too much following the narrow defeat against New Zealand on Saturday.
“I’m not going to make too many changes but I want to make sure I give everyone in the squad a game and I’ll make sure I do that this weekend,” he said. “Stevie Ward is the one exception from the group who won’t play and there are some guys that haven’t played since France and probably won’t play again now.
“I saw George play in the finals for Wigan a few weeks ago and he’s a quality player. He’ll definitely play this weekend, but it’s a bit hard for some guys who haven’t played since France – but you can’t do anything about it.”
England know that only victory in their final two group games gives them a realistic chance of making the Anfield final this month, making the match against Australia next weekend in London a semi‑final in effect.
“I’m fairly close to knowing the team that will play against Australia,” Bennett said. “There’s two or three spots up for grabs on Saturday but I think we all have a fair idea of what the side will be in London next weekend already.”
Bennett believes that confidence is still high in his group after their opening‑round defeat to New Zealand. “They’ve had enough losses in their life to handle [that] one,” he said. “We can’t change it, there’s disappointment but we move onto this weekend.”
