Smith inspired by World Cup-winning Kiwis

England coach Tony Smith will use New Zealand’s World Cup win as inspiration for tonight’s Gillette Four Nations final at Elland Road.

The Kiwis beat overwhelming favourites Australia at Brisbane to claim the World Cup; the defeat was the Kangaroos’ first of the tournament.

Smith hopes England can emulate New Zealand’s achievement when they face an Australian side that won comfortably the last time these two sides met.

“We’re looking for the sort of performance that New Zealand produced in the World Cup final,” he said.

“It’s been a few years since England have had some success and we’re in there fighting and hoping we can bring that to the country.”

This Four Nations tournament is the evolution of the Tri-Nations tournament that included Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain.

England captain Jamie Peacock was part of the Great Britain team that reached the Tri-Nations final at Elland Road in 2004; having finished top of the league stage the British were favourites against second-placed Australia.

Great Britain were no match for Australia, succumbing to a highly-embarrassing 44-4 defeat, but Peacock says there will be no repeat of that particular episode.

“The Aussies produced a great display and we didn’t deliver. It should be different this time around,” said Peacock.

“We came into that game in 2004 as favourites but we’re going into this one as underdogs which is great,” added Peacock.

“It’s always good to go into a final as underdogs. There’s no pressure on you.”