The rugby league Ashes goes on the line in Liverpool tonight and England coach Shaun Wane is under intense pressure to rectify the considerable disappointments of Wembley—and in all likelihood save his job.
Following last weekend’s 26-6 defeat to a Reece Walsh-inspired Australia, the under fire England boss has been forced to swallow his pride, reacting with several key changes to the side that will attempt to miraculously level the series at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the home of English Premier League football club Everton.
Critically, three of the English spine positions will be different from the first Test, a damning admission of selection defeat for Wane.
“I needed to make some changes to the side that lost last week at Wembley and I have done that,” Wane acknowledged, with halfback and captain George Williams likely to be the only English spine survivor from Wembley when England’s final line-up is announced ahead of kick off.
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Australian-born AJ Brimson will replace Jack Welsby at fullback, whose comical defending against a rampaging Angus Crichton will long be remembered in Ashes folklore for all the wrong reasons.
Hull KR’s tenacious Jez Litten will be promoted from the bench into the number nine jersey.
While Wigan’s Harry Smith looks set to usurp Mikey Lewis in the halves, renewing his international partnership with Williams.
Changes were rightly expected, but whether they make any difference is a different story entirely, such is the yawning talent gulf between the two nations.
Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters labelled his side’s Wembley performance as ‘scrappy’ and there’s little doubt Australia will play considerably better in Liverpool—especially under NRL referee Grant Atkins—but can England?
Based on the reactions in the English media this week, it seems doubtful at best.
“The Ashes have been in Australia’s hands since 1973 and, on this depressing evidence, they are staying there,” Ross Heppenstall wrote forlornly in The Telegraph.
Meanwhile, former Great Britain winger and Sky Sports UK analyst Brian Carney was already sharpening the knives for the England boss.
“(Shaun) Wane has been in charge long enough for goodwill to have an expiry date, another series loss will force uncomfortable questions about who should lead England to the next one,” Carney wrote.
The second Ashes Test is played tonight at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. Kick off 1:30am (AEDT).