Hayne-Inglis combo to spark Kangaroos - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Hayne-Inglis combo to spark Kangaroos

By Steve Jancetic 12/11/2009 08:55:25 PM Comments (0)

Australia's two most potent attackers Greg Inglis and Jarryd Hayne are set to play side by side in Saturday night's Four Nations final in a one-two punch the Kangaroos hope will blow England away.

Australian coach Tim Sheens has decided to switch Hayne to the left wing - the same side from which he tormented Queensland in the State of Origin series - in a bid to get a player judged this week to be the best in the game more involved.

After producing a series of spine-tingling performances from fullback in Parramatta's stunning run to the NRL grand final, Hayne has been almost anonymous during Australia's Four Nations campaign.

He has shown signs of frustration at being frozen out of the action outside Brisbane centre Justin Hodges, with the majority of Australia's attacking raids going the opposite way.

The proof is in the pudding, with Brett Morris scoring four tries on the left this tournament compared to none for Hayne.

All up, 12 of the 16 tries Australia have scored in the tournament have come down the left.

"I probably wanted to stack that side a bit more, it gives us a bit more firepower," said Sheens, who has switched Morris to the right wing outside Hodges.

"I see the value in it, and I experimented with it today. I may decide to go that way.

"I am looking to try and get him more involved. He's played left and right wing (before).

"I'd made a decision early in the week that I was going to change him, and when I told him he was quite happy about it.

"But I don't think young Morris has let anyone down there."

News of the impending change will only add to the fears in the England camp after Inglis tore them apart in their preliminary game at Wigan.

He scored one try and set up three others as the Kangaroos raced to a 26-0 halftime lead, but the prospect of Darren Lockyer feeding the ball to Inglis and Hayne in space with Billy Slater looming in support is enough to make Australian fans' mouths water.

It is the second time this tournament Sheens has adjusted game plans in an effort to get Hayne more involved, after designing some set plays to bring him off the wing in the last meeting with England.

He resisted the urge to give him a run at his preferred fullback position against France last weekend, reasoning that it was of greater benefit to the Australian side that he continue finding his feet on the wing in preparation for the final.

Another playing finding his feet at training on Wednesday was Michael Jennings, who was heavily involved in what was the Kangaroos most intense session of the tour.

Sheens said he was no closer to a decision on the make-up of his bench, with all six that were named on Wednesday taking part.

Asked what would be the deciding factor, Sheens reiterated his message from earlier in the week:

"Weather, and there's still a couple of bumps and bruises amongst (the squad) that may cause me to make a change."

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