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LEEDS RHINOS: I will be fit to face the Kiwis, says Hall
LEEDS RHINOS winger Ryan Hall is confident of being fit for England's must-win Gillette Four Nations showdown with New Zealand in four days' time.
Hall played the full 80 minutes of last Saturday's 26-16 loss to Australia, despite suffering a shoulder injury in the first half.
With right-winger Tom Briscoe having been substituted after a torrid time against the Australian attack, the loss of Hall – the top try scorer in engage Super League this year – would be a massive blow to England.
But Hall feels he will be fit to face the world champions at Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium on Saturday evening.
"I fell a bit awkwardly on it early on and it didn't feel 100 per cent, but I played on because I could get by," Hall said.
"Hopefully this week the physio will work on it and I'll be all right."
Hall is anxious to continue in the team after forming what he feels is a promising partnership with Castleford Tigers centre Michael Shenton.
"As a left-sided unit, I think we worked as a team," he said. "That's how you are meant to play rugby, working as a team and within units and I think our unit worked really well.
"We were a bit disappointed with the performance in the first half, 26-0 down going into half-time.
"But I think the character we showed to come back as we did was outstanding. We can take the confidence we got out of the back end of that game into this week.
"I said to the boys after the game that the second half was the most I've enjoyed 40 minutes of rugby in a while, except for the Grand Final obviously, because of the way we were playing."
England had the Aussies rattled in the second half and Hall reckons they've shown that they can compete with the best teams.
"They are the 'big boys' and they've been seen as that for a while," he said. "We want to rid them of that title.
"We don't think it's fair on us. Our competition over here is a high standard, I think we are equal and I think that tag of 'big boys' should go.
"We started to do something about it in the second half, but we just didn't do enough.
"Hopefully we will beat the Kiwis this week and we'll have another crack at them (Australia) in the final and it'll be a different story next time."
The current international series is another step on a sharp learning curve for Hall, who was playing amateur rugby in the National Conference League with Oulton Raiders just three years ago.
The 21-year-old made his England debut in the mid-season win over France and has played in both Four Nations games so far.
"I am enjoying it," he said.
"I have been learning all through this year and I've learned a lot in the couple of weeks that I've been here (with England), just from being around the guys.
"With Michael playing inside me, it's good to build a new partnership there.
"Me and Keith (Senior) have had a great one this year and hopefully me and Shenny can have an international partnership which is very strong.
"You learn all the time. Every time you go on to the pitch you should come off it a better player."
With one round of matches remaining, England are third in the Four Nations group table, a point behind New Zealand and Australia.
Victory over the Kiwis on Saturday would secure a place in the tournament decider, for the first time since 2004, but New Zealand go into the game only needing a draw to set up a repeat of last year's World Cup final against Australia.
RYAN HALL – along with fellow England squad members Tom Briscoe, Garreth Carvell and Peter Fox – will be signing autographs at the White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds today from 6 to 7pm.
Key members of the New Zealand squad will also be present for the meet-the-fans event.
“I have been learning all through this year and I’ve learned a lot in the couple of weeks that I’ve been here (with England), just from being around the guys.
“With Michael playing inside me, it’s good to build a new partnership there.
“Me and Keith (Senior) have had a great one this year and hopefully me and Shenny can have an international partnership which is very strong.
“You learn all the time. Every time you go on to the pitch you should come off it a better player.”
With one round of matches remaining, England are third in the Four Nations group table, a point behind New Zealand and Australia.
Victory over the Kiwis on Saturday would secure a place in the tournament decider, for the first time since 2004, but New Zealand go into the game only needing a draw to set up a repeat of last year’s World Cup final against Australia.
l RYAN HALL – along with fellow England squad members Tom Briscoe, Garreth Carvell and Peter Fox – will be signing autographs at the White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds today from 6 to 7pm.
Key members of the New Zealand squad will also be present for the meet-the-fans event.
peter.smith@ypn.co.uk
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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