England V Ireland Hospitality

New Zealand captain Benji Marshall inspired his side to a comprehensive 24-10 win over England in the opening clash of rugby league's Four Nations tournament at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

The home side outscored England four tries to two to set alight the series which also features Australia and Papua New Guinea.

England V Ireland Hospitality

England scored back-to-back tries midway through the second spell to claw their way into contention at 10-18 before the wizardry of Marshall restored order as he scored in the corner to seal the result.

It capped a memorable night for the New Zealand number six, who set up one other try, kicked four goals, and constantly kept the England defence on edge with his astute kicking.

But rather than drop their heads the Kiwis regrouped immediately and responded with a try to Junior Sa'u in the left corner.

Ireland V England Hospitality

Marshall missed the conversion but added a penalty goal midway through the half before setting up New Zealand's second try with a break down the right flank which ended with Lance Hohaia scoring by the posts.

New Zealand extended the lead to 18-0 soon after halftime when England fullback Gareth Widdop dropped a Marshall bomb and from the scrum restart Shaun Kenny-Dowall beat five tacklers in a 25-metre run to the line.

England V Ireland Hospitality

England, ruing a completion rate which hovered around 63 percent, fought their way back into the game when a fast-following James Roby scored after a chip over the line caught the New Zealand defence napping.

Widdop kicked the goal and from the restart scored himself when he finished an 80-metre move in which Michael Shenton and Kevin Brown carved up the New Zealand defence.

But the England roll was soon snuffed out when a piece of Marshall magic ignited a New Zealand attack near the halfway line and he was on hand to end the move with a try in the corner.

Ireland V England Hospitality

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has named a strong panel for their November internationals after being boosted by a number of high-profile returns this season.

Keith Earls, Rory Best, Stephen Ferris, Denis Leamy, Sean O'Brien and Donnacha Ryan all return after missing the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia, while Leinster lock Devin Toner and Munster utility back Johne Murphy are the only uncapped players named in the squad.

Ireland V England Hospitality

Leinster winger Luke Fitzgerald and Munster hooker Jerry Flannery could join the national side at a later date if they recover from knocks picked up on Heineken Cup duty last weekend, with Fitzgerald tipped to return to training on Thursday.

Former British & Irish Lions skipper Paul O'Connell and Leinster flanker Kevin McLaughlin remain absent due to existing injuries. Munster scrum-half Tomas O'Leary and Leinster lock Leo Cullen could also make an appearance at some stage should they prove their fitness.

Ireland face South Africa on November 6 in the first Test staged at the new Aviva Stadium before facing New Zealand, Argentina and Samoa.

"It is going to be a demanding month for the squad and the first time we have played four games in the series," Kidney said. "We felt it was important to have 30 fit players to choose from in terms of setting the foundations for November and it was better for those who picked up knocks to be assessed back in the provinces and when they have the all clear, to come back into the squad.

"Jerry and Luke are in that position, as are fellas like Tomas and Leo, who may well come back into the mix depending on their recoveries and game time that they may need to build up over the next couple of weeks."

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England V Ireland Hospitality

Ireland Rugby epresents the island of Ireland in rugby union and competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions (1999 and 2007). Ireland is also one of the four unions which make up the British and Irish Lions - players eligible to play for Ireland are also eligible for the Lions.

The Six Nations Championship held every year in February and March is Ireland's only annual tournament. It is contested against England, France, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Ireland was a member of the inaugural Home Nations in 1883 with France and Italy joining later to form the Five and Six Nations respectively. Ireland won their first championship in 1894, winning the Triple Crown also. Ireland's first Grand Slam occurred in the 1948 season and their second in the 2009 season. In total Ireland have been champions on eleven occasions.

England competes annually in the Six Nations Championship, which is played against five other European nations: France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. The Six Nations started out as the Home Nations Championship in 1883 which England won with a Triple Crown.

England has won the title more times than any other nation by winning it outright 25 times, and sharing victory ten times. Their longest wait between championships was 18 years from 1892 to 1910.

England players traditionally wear white shorts, navy socks with white tops, and a white shirt with a red rose embroidered on it, and for the first time in the English rugby team's history, their away shirt is red. Their home ground is Twickenham Stadium where they first played in 1910. The team is administered by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

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Ireland V England Hospitality

England V Ireland Hospitality