International Rugby League - Four Nations

Will Mr Sheens' 4-9 Kangaroos be cleaning up?

The biggest question facing this year's Four Nations is the same one that greets every international rugby league tournament. Can anyone stop Australia?

Tim Sheens' Kangaroos are red-hot favourites at 4-9 with bwin to give retiring captain Darren Lockyer the perfect send off and - let's face it - if you had to put your mortgage on it, that's exactly the outcome we'd all go for.

Home advantage and colder conditions are in England's favour, but given the gulf in talent between Super League and the NRL, it may count for very little.

Steve McNamara's men are 7-1 with Betfred, but will need to gel quickly if they are to compete with the Kiwis and Australia. There was very little in last week's 32-18 win over France to suggest the hosts are ready to trouble the big two.

Saturday's clash with Wales - 250-1 no-hopers with Stan James - allows England the opportunity to sharpen up over another 80 minutes and this delay before the real action begins could be invaluable.

Wales' chances of being competitive rests in the hands and boot of Lee Briers. That said, an England win it will surely be and victory by 31-35 points catches the eye at 6-1 (Stan James).

The Kiwis - 7-2 with Skybet - were blown away by Australia two weeks ago, but you'd be crazy to write off the World Cup winners. With the mercurial talent of Benji Marshall pulling the strings, anything is possible.

Australia, though, will edge tonight's match at Warrington. Blue Square offer 10-11 on a win for Sheens' men by 13+ points and I think that's worth a punt.

The pivotal game in this tournament is set to be England versus New Zealand - the victors of which should meet the green and golds in the final. The creative influence of Kiwi-born stand-off Rangi Chase could prove decisive for England and I'm backing them to reach the Elland Road final. Don't let me down lads.

Aussie full-back Billy Slater tops the top tryscorer betting - 8-1 with Skybet, but if you want a patriotic punt, Ryan Hall is the most reliable winger in the English game - 10-1 with Skybet.

As for an outright winner... let's watch a few games first, but Australia - as always - are the team to beat.

International Rugby League

Chase-ing the dream - is it a step too far?

If you’re patriotic about rugby league, the sight of Rangi Chase in an England shirt tonight is a bitter pill to swallow.

Quite simply, if coach Steve McNamara had enough belief in the English talent at his disposal, Chase wouldn’t get a look in.

McNamara’s selection is a kick in the teeth for English rugby league – make no mistake about it. What he’s saying is clear: We’re not good enough to beat the Kiwis and Australia in the Four Nations.

To give ourselves a chance we need to capitalise on some pathetically weak international regulations that allow us to pick an outrageously talented stand-off born in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand in 1986.

And talented Chase is. Man of Steel in Super League this season and an attacking threat every time he has the ball in hand. He could really make a difference to England’s chances.

But, if like me, you regard the ideology of international sport as the opportunity for men to represent their country and test themselves against the rest of the world – well, this really isn’t it.

Sure, we’ve done it before with Maurie Fa’asavalu and England’s cricket and rugby union teams are also an insult to the old phrase 'representing your country'. It’s the same with other nations too, but it doesn’t make it right.

It’s a means to an end for Chase. He’s desperate to play on the biggest stage of all. Despite all his patriotic English bravado and McNamara churning out ridiculous comments like “he’s committed to the cause” – one thing is for certain – if Kiwi captain Benji Marshall wasn’t around, Chase would be wearing a black shirt this Four Nations.

Gareth Widdop and Danny McGuire both lay in waiting. Widdop has enjoyed a sensational season in the NRL with the Storm at stand-off and deserves the chance to impress for his country of birth.

McGuire ended the campaign in great form for Leeds. If McNamara thinks Chase isn’t stopping English talent from representing their country then he needs his head testing.

If England – 7-1 with Hills to win the Four Nations – are lifting the trophy come November 19, I’ll be bursting with pride. But it won’t be the same feeling as if they’d done it with just English talent. That would be something special. Instead, they’ll always be a bitter taste.