STARSTRUCK
Warm-up win... but all is not cool in Wane’s World
England 18
Combined Nations All Stars 4
By
SHAUN WANE gave a cautious thumbs up after England dominated this World Cup warmup game.
But the England coach laid it on the line to the players he felt didn’t come up to scratch.
He said: “I thought we made great strides towards the World Cup today but there are only three or four players nailed on.
“I am putting pressure on my staff to get players up to speed quicker. The review of that game won’t be great. There were some things that were unacceptable and the players will know that.”
John Bateman was named man of the match after scoring a try and setting up another for George Williams.
But even he isn’t assured of a starting spot when the World Cup kicks off against Samoa on October 15.
Wane said: “He was good and played in the middle with a bit of freedom but I am not sure he is one of the ones that are nailed on.
“I genuinely think he can do a lot better. There were a couple of defensive errors early in the game and he needs to get rid of them.”
St Helens golden boy Jack Welsby made his debut in the halves, alongside outof-form Warrington star Williams.
Better
But it was Williams who came out better in Wane’s eyes, the England boss saying: “Jack can play better than what he did. I want more from him.
“I want all my halves to run more and George did that. He was the better half.”
BY GEORGE: George Williams runs in to score the second try
Catalans hooker Micky Mcilorum made his first England appearance for nine years, with Paul Mcshane coming off the bench.
Two further potential England hookers, Kruise Leeming and
Daryl Clark, played in the All Stars team. Wane said: “Micky led the line well and was the pick. Mcshane can do a lot better and Leeming and Clark did what I expected.”
Leeming was the best player in the All Stars team, which
was made up of a mix of foreign and English players in Super League. But Ellery Hanley’s side were outclassed and grabbed a late consolation try from Ken Sio, created by Leeming.
England were already well on top, on the back of a first half in which centre Jake Wardle scored on his debut and Williams added a second.
Tough
Bateman strengthened their lead with his try early in the second half, to the delight of Wane.
He said: “We did some really good things overall and the things we’ve worked on over the last 12 months we did really well.
“We defended tough. We are not the biggest nation and so we have to play to the strengths of our players. Our skill needs to be up there.
“We did that in patches but not often enough. There are things we need to get better at but there was more good than bad.
“But the door is genuinely open to any player who is playing really well ahead of the World Cup.”
ENGLAND: Tries: Wardle, Williams, Bateman. Cons: Tomkins (3).
COMBINED NATIONS: Try: Sio.