Bennett warning to avoid late disasters

ENGLAND coach Wayne Bennett says avoiding late heartbreak against Australia and New Zealand will be a key aim of his new regime.

Aussie veteran Bennett (above) takes his side to France on Saturday for a warm-up game ahead of the Four Nations.

The national side have not won a major tournament including the Kangaroos and Kiwis since the 1972 World Cup, and Bennett sees that as a crucial issue.

He said: “The aim is to get ourselves to a standard where we match the other two teams. We’ve got to make ourselves competitive and if we stay in the games – for 80 minutes too, not 60 or 70 – that’s my challenge.

“New Zealand could have two full packs out there, such is the depth of their squad.

“And the big advantage Australia have is that they’ve all played together and against each other in big games.

“But that’s a standard we have to get ourselves to.” Sam Burgess is suspended for France, but his brothers Tom and George should be back.

The quartet of uncapped players in Bennett’s squad – Jonny Lomax, Mark Percival, Luke Gale and Scott Taylor – could all make their debuts, with players that featured in last week’s Grand Final expected to be among those given a rest. Bennett added: “I need to get players playing that haven’t played for five or six weeks. I don’t want to throw them cold into New Zealand.

“My priority is to get those guys a game, and I can give the guys who have played more recently a week off.

“There’s no need to f force people to play.”