Ladbrokes Four Nations: 3 battles to look out for in England v Scotland
Published:
It’s all or nothing as England and Scotland face off in the Ladbrokes Rugby League Four Nations at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on Saturday – with neither able to afford another slip-up if they want to reach the Final.
The Bravehearts showed flashes of attacking quality against Australia, but were found wanting defensively, while England were agonisingly beaten 18-17 by New Zealand.
So, where will this one be won and lost?
Scotland men want Qualifiers revenge
The Qualifiers produced their usual mix of blend and heartbreak in Super League XXI, with Leeds Rhinos finishing top of the pile, while the likes of London Broncos and Batley Bulldogs fell just short of promotion. Speaking of which…
England have experienced Rhinos duo Kallum Watkins and Ryan Hall in their backline, while the Scots boast the talents of Batley’s David Scott and the Broncos’ Ben Hellewell in the same areas.
Expect the Championship pair to go all-out to prove their English counterparts wrong, while Watkins and Hall will be desperate to cut down on the three tries they conceded against the Kiwis.
Can Scots keep big names quiet?
Despite a valiant performance against New Zealand, nobody in England’s front two rows chalked up a try – a stat which will surely fill Bravehearts’ head coach Steve McCormack with confidence.
However, the hosts are unlikely to struggle to score in their first ever competitive meeting with their near-neighbours.
Having beaten former Four Nations regulars France 84-4 at the end of 2015, before a Baskerville Shield triumph over the Kiwis, chances are Sam Burgess and co. will rack up the points here.
It’s 9/4 for England to win by 31-40 points, while it’s 3/1 the Scots lose by 41-50 points for the second game running.
Can Scotland’s giant galvanise them?
There’s little doubt over who Scotland’s most dangerous player is – but can Danny Brough really lead the 25/1 shots to victory over an England side priced at 1/125 to defeat them?
Perhaps not, but with 139 points from his previous 21 caps, the Bravehearts’ top scorer is always a threat, and chipped in with two conversions against New Zealand.
One of the most reliable kickers in this tournament, having the 33-year-old in their ranks means the 12/1 for Scotland to open the scoring with a penalty looks like good value – while 19/4 says they’re the first side to score a try.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
