TOTAL RESPECT; Kangaroos legend Petero hails new-look England pack

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), Nov 11, 2009

Byline: CHRIS ROBERTS

LEGENDARY Australian front-rower Petero Civoniceva has heaped praise on Giants prop Eorl Crabtree and the rest of the England pack ahead of Saturday's Gillette Four Nations Final at Elland Road.

The experienced Penrith Panthers star admits he's never faced a forward pack quite as big as England's current line-up, which caused the Kangaroos so many problems in their clash in Wigan two weeks ago.

And he expects it to be no different in this weekend's Leeds showdown when coach Tony Smith's men look to gain revenge from their 26-16 defeat at the hands of the green and golds 11 days ago.

"I think it will be a very big and physical confrontation up front, but it's one that we're looking forward to," said Civoniceva.

"I think their size and mobility is a real stand-out that we noticed in the second game at Wigan, especially the momentum they were able to build in the second half which took some stopping. So we've got some work to do this week in preparing for the game.

"They have balance right across the park with great experience up front in Morley and Peacock and some of the best young forwards in the game in Ellis, Graham, Crabtree and Sam Burgess.

"They all played their part in taking us apart in the second half so we've some work to do this week, but we'll be ready."

Australia will go into Saturday's clash as the favourites to triumph.

That was also the case a year ago when the Kangaroos suffered a shock World Cup final defeat to New Zealand.

But Civoniceva knows the Kangaroos will be using that experience of losing to the Kiwis to prepare them for his country's latest major rugby league final.

"It will be something we'll definitely bring up," he added.

"We had a great preparation and some great performances leading up to the World Cup final and we stumbled at the last hurdle.

"We definitely don't want this to happen again and it's really important we prepare really well this week to get the job done."

. More build-up tomorrow.

CAPTION(S):

HIGHLY-RATED: the Australians have a lot of respect for Eorl Crabtree PETERO CIVONICEVA: the big prop will relish the pack battle against England in the Four Nations final