THE TONY SMITH COLUMN: It is up to us now to create history as England

EXCLUSIVE By Tony Smith, England Head Coach

We're screaming out in the northern hemisphere for a competitive international fixture and in Toulouse I reckon we'll get precisely that. France are going to be formidable in France, especially with a whole raft of Catalans Dragons players who are in such rich form. That's good for them and it's good for us. It's a Test match that will test our team and examine our character, not simply in terms of Friday's match but in terms of preparing us for the rigours of the World Cup in Australia in the autumn.

Of course we've got to be careful not to get too far ahead of ourselves. We've got to take care of this game, but there are things that we can take from this trip and this Test which we can learn from in fine-tuning our preparation for the World Cup. Having to travel, play in a different country and adapt to different weather conditions are all valuable experiences and, for the first time, we are playing as a new look England.

While we retired the Great Britain brand in this country on the right note with victory in 2007, it's important we carry that momentum through to the England brand. Every player is delighted to be playing for England. There's a real buzz about the squad and a fresh feel somehow. It's up to us to create history as England over the next few years.

Personally, I'm excited, refreshed and relishing the next few months. I've had six months building up to this point. There are a lot of experienced players in this squad who've been there and done that and I'm not going to get into overcoaching them. I've a good core of players who know what's needed and so I'm looking to use their experience and knowledge and thoughts on how we should do things as well.

My philosophy on how we play remains the same: we play to our strengths, the English way. It's an exciting brand of rugby league we play in this country, with offloads and plenty of support play and and a willingness to take a few risks in some areas. We need to keep doing that.

I'm a performance-driven coach. If we put on a great performance, results should go our way. We could win and have a poor performance and I'd be disappointed. We could lose and have a great performance and I'd be pleased with the players, because if they've performed to their best and are beaten on any day, by France or whoever else, then there's nothing more that the players could have done. Perform, however, and generally the result will look after itself.

My biggest concern for France was to pick a team on form and we've done that. I've selected a lot of players involved in the series win against New Zealand last year when they did a fantastic job. Their form now has warranted their re-selection, along with three new faces in the squad in Peter Fox, Joe Westerman and Ben Westwood.

Peter Fox was a young fella when I was at Leeds, who showed a lot of promise but ended up going to York. It hasn't come easy for him but he's displayed resilience, an ability to learn and he has got better and better, first at Wakefield and now at Hull KR. He's had a little luck coming in for Gareth Raynor, who has been injured, but you need that and he has fully earned his chance with some very impressive form.

I especially enjoy picking young players. They bring that youthful zest to the set up and Joe Westerman is certainly an international player of the future, if not already. Everyone has recognised his potential and he's probably exceeded expectations this year. He's played 80 minutes in just about every game for Castleford.

Ben Westwood was unlucky not to get a nod in the Northern Union game last year and he's been there or thereabouts for a little while. He's got very good utility value in being able to fill numerous positions, and he's a big strapping lad who causes opponents some grief.

Whittling the numbers down to 19 for the trip was difficult - and that's good. The harder the choice, the better. I could easily have put into the squad another half-a-dozen players and I'd have been happy with it. Some players have missed out this time for various reasons. All I would say is that there's a lot of rugby to be played before we settle on the final 24 for Australia.

* Tony Smith was talking to Chris Irvine

PICTURES BY BEN DUFFY

Comments

[Jez shires]

Tony - you're appointment has been like a breath of fresh air for the GB and now England set up. Players are picked on form and on position. Good luck tonight.

[David]

Should be a good crowd in heard it advertised on French radio at the weekend

[Kat Saints Lover]

Mike

You can only beat what is in front of you ;)
Hardly Saints fault that leeds resorted to dirty underhand tatics is it :)

[Arthur snott]

I Hope we will win but, I reckon it will be close 2-6 points!

[Mike Hunt]

For Once I actually agree with you Kat!

Even If You did beat a ten 12 Man Rhinos the other night!

[Kat Saints Lover]

Great blog Tony!! It's great to have a coach who's very enthusiatic and picks a squad on form not on reputation! It definitely makes the fans more positive when they see on form players being picked an encouraged to play the sort of RL we're great at here in the UK!! Bring on France!!

[Bob Salisbury]

Excellent blog Tony. Particularly like the fact that you feel that we have to play English-style of rugby to fulfil our potential.

It was always a joy to watch the contrast between the old GB and the Aussies/Kiwis when it came down to styles of play. The only thing you have to do now is to turn this style into a winning formula. France will be tough up the middle but England should win by 10-15 points IMO.

[albert whittle]

I like the bit where he says Peter Fox was a young fella when I was there, but ended up going to York, no doubt on the nod of Mr Smith himself, it shows he does not have a closed mind where players are concerned, in the same situation would Noble have given the lad an International spot, dont think so.

[Smitty]

Excellent blog piece Tony. Your thoughts and efforts are greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work on this blog and for England. I reckon you're going to win 32-18 on Friday. Good luck to the England lads in France.