England 42 Ireland 0: Deeds not words as Graham issues his response

A limited Ireland side had plenty of spirit but little else as they were easily cast aside by England in front of a record crowd of 24,375 for Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium.

Leeds Rhinos’ Ryan Hall scored perhaps the easiest hat-trick of his career as he walked over for three tries inside the opening 22 minutes.

Graham, the world-class prop who had been controversially axed for their World Cup opener against Australia, had been on the field five minutes by that point and already started to blow off some cobwebs. And release some frustration.

At times as combustible off the pitch as he can be on it, the 28-year-old has been known to occasionally sound off after matches.

However, there was little chance of him doing so here and illuminating anyone with what really occurred leading up to his enforced lay-off.

England coach Steve McNamara had already shown a ruthless touch before the tournament started by dispatching Gareth Hock from his squad for breaking a drinking ban and missing a swimming session; so it would take a fool to break ranks again.

When asked if he could clear up why he was omitted against Australia, the suggestion being it was alcohol-related too, Graham replied: “It is not my thing to talk about selection policy. You would have to ask the coach.”

Well, been there and got nothing, apart from a hastily ended press conference.

The Canterbury Bulldogs prop did, though, venture as far as revealing his disappointment at missing out against Australia.

“It was frustrating, but I wasn’t selected,” he added.

“I was still cheering the boys on and they did a really good job, they just came up a little bit short and they were a bit unlucky.”

There was never any danger of England coming up short here, though, after they raced into a 30-0 interval lead, hapless Ireland only touching the ball to restart during a sensational period when the hosts scored four tries.

Leeds-bound Tom Briscoe made the most of his opportunity with Josh Charnley missing, the winger scoring twice and also neatly laying on a second-half effort for Kallum Watkins after palming down Gareth Widdop’s crossfield kick.

Rangi Chase completed the rout in the 69th minute with his first England try, a well-deserved effort for the ex-Castleford half-back who was sprightly and inventive once more, being at the heart of the hosts’ best moments.

England’s Huddersfield boys – centre Leroy Cudjoe and second-row Brett Ferres – both fared well on home territory, linking smartly and regularly with Chase down the left to cause Ireland continous problems and gift-wrap Hall that simplest of trebles.

Ferres, who produced some wonderful offloads, earned his first England try, too, after the effervescent Sam Tomkins had darted into the line and, with Kevin Sinfield dictating, it was all too easy.

Ireland – with seven part-timers included – only ever briefly threatened, Damien Blanch wasting their best chance when he fumbled Liam Finn’s crossfield kick with Hall marooned.

However, that was in the 73rd minute, by which point the annihilation had long been complete.

Pity Mark Aston’s side who face Australia next on Saturday.

It has to be hoped the Kangaroos, already secure in the last eight, enjoy some of the Black Stuff in Limerick and take it easy out on the pitch.

Fiji certainly will not be taking it easy against England earlier that afternoon in Hull when they face each other in a straight shoot-out for second place in Group A.

McNamara’s pack must front up against the physicality of those opponents.

“Your forwards have to stand up for every game so Fiji is no different from that, as will everyone else,” insisted Graham, who departed here with a twisted knee but is expected to be fine for their final group outing.

“We certainly won’t be taking them lightly. It is not just about forwards.

“The way the game is these days, the involvement of the back three in getting us going forward and some of the decisions the edges will have to make so it is not just about our pack it is about our whole team.”

That game will see an unexpected reunion for Graham with Petro Civoniceva, the revered 37-year-old ex-Australia prop who retired from the NRL with Brisbane Broncos 12 months ago but is now captaining the country of his birth.

Is he looking forward to renewing acquaintances?

“I don’t know about looking forward to it,” smiled Graham, after his first international since the 2011 Four Nations final.

“But he is obviously one of the best front-rowers from this generation isn’t he really?

“I still watched him play a couple of games at Redcliffe (Queensland Cup) this year.

“He is still going strong and in the game the other night against Ireland he looked strong.”

England will hope fellow prop George Burgess shrugs off a dead leg that saw his early departure though they do have his brother Sam to return from suspension and Lee Mossop waiting in the wings,

Hall, meanwhile, surpassed Tomkins as England’s greatest-ever try-scorer taking his tally to 17 in as many games as the hosts ensured they finally got their tournament up and running following an infamous friendly loss to Italy and the Australia reverse.

Graham has been around the international scene for seven years now and, of course, was involved at the last World Cup in 2008.

When asked for a comparison of this to those other vintages, he said: “I think it is too hard to compare old teams. The ones I have played in, at the time we have always felt like we could do something and this is no different.

“I don’t think there is any point in coming out and saying how we can win it. We will just focus on Fiji and then hopefully get the win and go into the quarter-finals.

“There is no point in saying anything else other than that.

“It is an old cliche but you just have to take things week by week.”

England: Tomkins; Briscoe, Watkins, Cudjoe, Hall; Chase, Sinfield; Hill, Roby, G. Burgess, Ferres, Westwood, O’Loughlin. Substitutes: Widdop, Ablett, T. Burgess, Graham.

Ireland: Mendeika; Blanch, Littler, Pewhairangi, Richards; Currie, Finn; White, Kostjasyn, Hasson, Finnigan, Allen, McCarthy. Substitutes: Beswick, Ambler, Bridge, Mullally.

Referee: T Alibert (France).