Category: Rugby

• Veteran full-back named on bench for Kangaroos’ clash with Samoa

• Kayln Ponga in New Zealand’s extended squad to face Tonga

Reece Walsh and Kayln Ponga are on track to resume their compelling rivalry after two huge coach calls ahead of the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.

Walsh on Tuesday retained the Australian No 1 jumper ahead of James Tedesco for the Kangaroos’ semi-final against Samoa in Sydney on Sunday.

English rugby league needs systemic change and national side must be a higher priority after early exit

“England have gone backwards over the last eight to 10 years.” Damning words about the state of English rugby league, from an Australia head coach, no less. But what should be most troubling for anyone with any sort of power within the sport is that these comments are not recent: they were made by the then Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart, almost two decades ago.

Stuart was speaking after England’s men were beaten in the semi-finals of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup but, as the national team head home from the tournament once again, his stance still holds weight today. England have failed to make it to the last four for the first time, having failed to qualify from a farcical group-stage format.

• Match report: Records tumble as merciless Jillaroos destroy Wales in Rugby League World Cup

And the two teams are out in the glorious spring sunshine. Smiles all round as Australia prepare to fill their boots and Wales soak up the occasion.

The Jillaroos are wearing gold jerseys this afternoon, with green chevrons and shorts. Wales are in red with white and dark green accents.

• Kangaroos shake off a slow start to defeat Cook Islands in Townsville

• Australia cruise into the semi-finals on top of Pool A

The Kangaroos will be wearing their familiar dark green uniform with gold accents. Plenty of green in the Cook Islands outfit as well, but it is the secondary colour to a majority white base.

Tonight’s referee is NRL veteran Ashley Klein.

• Pool B + C: England 34-12 Papua New Guinea

• Women’s side crash out after defeat by Samoa

Game over. Two ultimately straightforward victories from three group games would ordinarily be enough to secure qualification in the Rugby League World Cup, but the format means that, barring a rugby league miracle from Tonga on Sunday, England are heading home early.

That format – 10 teams in lopsided groups and England in a unique position of being effectively out after defeat on the opening weekend – has been a point of discussion since that defeat by the Tongans a fortnight ago. But at some stage, the attention has to turn internally and the tough, uncompromising questions have to be asked of English rugby league.

• England need 68-point swing in final group games

• McDermott: ‘It’s a difficult situation to negotiate’

The England head coach, Brian McDermott, has urged his side to keep their nerve as they attempt to hold up their end of the bargain on Friday and secure what would be a remarkable qualification for the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup.

Defeat by Tonga in their opening group game a fortnight ago appeared to all but consign England to an early exit, owing in no small part to a complex and shortened format, with the tournament reduced to 10 teams. However, the margin of their 82-0 win against France last Saturday means qualification is still possible, albeit unlikely.