Bennett gives England a real lift
ENGLAND’S half-back pairing were grappling with weights in the gym when 67–year-old coach Wayne Bennett planted his wiry frame down on the bench by the side of them. ‘We’re looking at him and he starts bench-pressing 80kg,’ said scrum-half luke Gale. ‘Gareth Widdop, at the side of me, was only doing 70 and Wayne let him know about it!’ It is fair to say, as England prepared for their second World Cup clash against lebanon in Sydney today, that the players have been impressed with their leader — the most successful coach in Australian rugby league history. ‘He doesn’t speak all the time, but when he does, you take notice,’ said Gale, who was impressive in England’s encouraging 18-4 defeat by favourites Australia. ‘He simplifies the game and sometimes that is the best policy.’ Wigan stand-off George Williams will win his sixth cap against lebanon after receiving a late call-up amid concerns over the fitness of full back Jonny lomax, who was absent from the captain’s run at the Sydney Football Stadium. England insist they will not underestimate the challenge of lebanon in a city with a large lebanese community. Assistant coach Denis Betts said: ‘They’re an international side with some quality players. They’ve got a massive following in this part of the world. If anything, this is a bigger game for them. They know they can win, so we’ve got to match their enthusiasm and their intensity and have willingness to do the little things.’ Gale added: ‘Whenever you pull on the England jersey you are expecting a challenge and we will get that against lebanon, that’s for sure. But there is a lot of confidence. We are improving as a nation. We believe we can win the World Cup.’