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England unchanged for final match

FOUR NATIONS FINAL: England v Australia
Venue: Elland Road, Leeds Date: Sat, 14 November Kick-off: 1930 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and online, plus text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles. Also live on Sky Sports 2.

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Smith hopes 'continuity' pays off

England coach Tony Smith has named an unchanged side for Saturday's Four Nations final showdown with Australia.

Kevin Sinfield is again set to play out of position at hooker, with youngsters Sam Tomkins and Kyle Eastmond to continue as the half-back pairing.

But Smith has not ruled out making some late changes to the line-up from within the 17-man squad announced.

Australia forward Luke Lewis will make his first start for the Kangaroos, who have named six bench options.

Penrith Panthers second-rower Lewis was on the bench for Australia's last two games against England and France and comes into the starting XIII in place of Anthony Watmough.

That is the only change to the team that started for Australia in their 26-16 win over England earlier in the tournament.

We analysed everybody's performances and decided to stick with the players from last week and give them a chance to build on some continuity

England coach Tony Smith

Michael Jennings, who scored a hat-trick against France, is one of the six players who could start on the bench, with coach Tim Sheens not expected to finalise his final four interchange options until the day of the game.

Kurt Gidley, who was coach Sheens' personal man of the match in their 42-2 win over France in Paris, is also on the bench.

But the weather may have a say in who gets the nod on the reserve bench, with the chance that Australia would pick four forwards if recent rain continues.

Meanwhile, England continue with centre Chris Bridge and winger Peter Fox on the right side. It means that centre Lee Smith, who started against France and Australia, has played his last league game before switching to union.

After watching his side impress up front against the Kiwis last week, Smith has again named four specialist props in his 17.

Peacock praises 'fantastic' Australia

But Smith has not ruled out making some tweaks to his starting line-up from among the 17 players selected.

"We're not positive who will start but it will be from that 17," he said.

"We analysed everybody's performances and decided to stick with the players from last week and give them a chance to build on some continuity.

"We got a lot of confidence out of last week."

The final could mark the end of Smith's tenure as England coach, with the 42-year-old out of contract at the end of the year.

His team were a huge disappointment at last year's World Cup but his young team have improved through the current tournament.

After defeating France in their opening match, England trailed 26-0 at the break in their game against the Kangaroos before staging a second-half comeback.

England took their second-half form into last Saturday's match, deservedly defeating world champions New Zealand.

Saturday's encounter is the first major international final for five years that has not featured both Australia and the Kiwis.

BBC SPORT'S PAUL FLETCHER
Paul Fletcher

Great Britain were defeated 44-4 by the Australians in the 2004 Tri-Nations final, with that encounter also taking place at Elland Road.

Only skipper Jamie Peacock and fellow forward Adrian Morley remain in England's 17 from the team that were on the wrong side of a seven-try thrashing.


England: S Briscoe (Hull KR); P Fox (Hull KR), C Bridge (Warrington), M Shenton (Castleford), R Hall (Leeds); S Tomkins (Wigan), K Eastmond (St Helens); A Morley (Warrington), K Sinfield (Leeds), J Graham (St Helens), J Peacock (Leeds, capt), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), S Burgess (Bradford). Subs: J Roby (St Helens), E Crabtree (Huddersfield), B Westwood (Warrington), J Wilkin (St Helens).

Australia: B Slater (Melbourne); J Hayne (Parramatta), G Inglis (Melbourne), J Hodges (Brisbane), B Morris (St George Illawarra); D Lockyer (Brisbane, capt), J Thurston (North Queensland); P Civoniceva (Penrith), C Smith (Melbourne), B Hannant (Canterbury), L Lewis (Penrith), P Gallen (Cronulla), N Hindmarsh (Parramatta). Subs (from): D Shillington (Canberra), S Thaiday (Brisbane), A Watmough (Manly), K Gidley (Newcastle), M Jennings (Penrith), B White (Melbourne).



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see also
Kiwi Williamson to referee final
11 Nov 09 |  Rugby League
England eye revenge over Aussies
07 Nov 09 |  Rugby League
England 20-12 New Zealand
07 Nov 09 |  Rugby League
France 4-42 Australia
07 Nov 09 |  Rugby League
France 12-62 New Zealand
31 Oct 09 |  Rugby League
England 16-26 Australia
31 Oct 09 |  Rugby League
Australia 20-20 New Zealand
24 Oct 09 |  Rugby League
England 34-12 France
23 Oct 09 |  Rugby League
Great Britain 4-44 Australia
27 Nov 04 |  Rugby League
Four Nations fixtures and results
14 Nov 09 |  Rugby League


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