Unlike England’s near-misses in recent years, the advantage the class of 2015 have is that they still have the chance to put things right after a performance on Saturday that seemed like a missed opportunity on so many levels.
First and foremost, the opportunity to put New Zealand away only two Test matches into the three-Test series was there for the taking and England could not deliver.
The 9-2 defeat was every inch the attacking calamity the scoreline suggests, and England now have to win the decider, in Wigan this coming Saturday, to clinch the series. Four Nations and World Cup defeats in the past two years have left no margin to bounce back, but Steve McNamara’s side have a chance to respond in the third Test.
There is a feeling that on this occasion London failed to see the best of rugby league, moreover. The sport is desperate to establish a proper presence in the capital, and although a crowd of almost 45,000 were inside the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, they would have inevitably left for home somewhat underwhelmed by what they had seen (unless they were New Zealand fans, of course).
Looking forward to the DW Stadium, what is perhaps most intriguing is McNamara’s unwavering faith and consistency in his team. The same 17 men have played in all three Tests in 2015, but that record is now under threat. Unlike years gone by, the England coach has genuine options at his disposal, but it is unknown whether he is prepared to make a call of such magnitude in the deciding Test of a series.
Any likely changes will probably come at half-back. George Williams, the man who appeared to take the most criticism on Saturday, is still only 20 and a hugely exciting prospect but with the Castleford half-back Luke Gale and his Wigan counterpart Matty Smith in the wings, McNamara’s faith in both Williams and his partner Gareth Widdop will be tested after this performance.
“I don’t know if changes are needed,” said the England captain, Sean O’Loughlin. “Steve will probably have a look at that this week. The lads who have not been involved have all been training well and are desperate for a chance. But that’s Steve’s call. He will probably have a look back at the game and see what comes out of that.”
As the captain of Wigan as well as England, O’Loughlin needs no motivation for Saturday. The prospect of winning the series in London has gone, but the 32-year-old is fully aware they have a second opportunity in front of a boisterous DW Stadium. “We wanted to get it wrapped up this week but it wasn’t to be and we know we’ve got another chance this week,” he said. “From my point of view, I can’t wait to go back to Wigan … I’m looking forward to it massively.”
Yet while the players will undoubtedly feel the pressure in the run-up to Saturday, McNamara has more reason than most to ensure he gets things right for the final Test. He is out of contract at the end of this series and although he continues to deflect talk about his future, the game is effectively a job audition for an extended deal, despite O’Loughlin attempting to play down such talk.
“I don’t know if it comes down to that, but I think what Steve has done with his time with England has been massive,” he said. “The professionalism him and the rest of the staff have brought to the England set-up has been huge. We’re desperate for a win on Saturday but I think what’s Steve has done, whether we get a win or not, has been fantastic.”
There is no doubting McNamara’s popularity among the players, and a win would surely secure a new deal to take England to the World Cup in 2017. A loss, however, could be the catalyst for change after what would represent another near miss at international level – and that alone is motivation enough for McNamara and his men.
England Hardaker; J Burgess, Watkins, Bateman, Hall; Widdop, Williams; Graham, Hodgson, Hill, Whitehead, Farrell, O’Loughlin. Interchange Roby, T Burgess, Cooper, Ferres.
New Zealand Tuivasa-Sheck; Nightingale, Kahu, Whare, Kenny-Dowall; Hiku, Nikorima; Bromwich, Luke, Moa, Proctor, Harris, Blair. Interchange Brown, Taupau, Matulino, Glenn.
Referee G Sutton (Aus). Attendance 44,393.
