Crabtree ready for the big-hitting Tongans

Eorl Crabtree insists England are ready to fight fire with fire as they prepare for a physical onslaught from Tonga in Sunday's Federation Shield final at Widnes' Halton Stadium.

The Tongans shook the young England forwards with the ferocity of their challenges in their earlier encounter before the skill of the Super League side shone through, enabling them to clinch a flattering 40-18 win.

The Pacific Islanders recovered brilliantly from that defeat at the Stoop to batter the French into submission in Castres, where they cruised to a 48-10 victory to earn their place in the final.

"I'm not surprised we're playing Tonga," admitted Crabtree, Huddersfield Giants' 6ft 6in, 18st front row forward.

"The way they played against us showed they were very tough and to beat France the way they did shows they have a bit of class as well as beef.

"That match at the Stoop and the one against New Zealand last year were the toughest, most physical games I've played in.

"I'm they sure will come out all guns firing on Sunday and try and put us off our game by knocking our heads off most likely.

"We are going to have to meet fire with fire, get in their faces and show that we're not going to be pushed over. We're going to have to raise it this weekend."

Such fighting talk will be music to the ears of coach Paul Cullen, who admits the forward battle will be crucial to the outcome of the final and he is expecting the giant Crabtree to lead from the front.

"We matched them in the second game," said Cullen. "Big Eorl Crabtree really did stand up in that game.

'I haven't gone backwards'

"He was almost singled out for a bit of attention and I thought he played very very well, as did the rest of the English pack. Let's be honest, that's where the game is going to be decided."

The 24-year-old Crabtree was in the Great Britain train-on squad in 2005 and, despite missing once more out on the Tri-Nations Series, believes the England team provides the ideal stepping stone to the big stage.

Sunday's final will mark his sixth successive England appearance and he is confident he will one day play for the full national side.

"I haven't gone backwards and I don't think people have overtaken me, it's just people's preferences I believe," he said.

"I'm afraid I haven't been playing in those top-six games and I don't have the experience of some of the other boys.

"The tournament has gone really well. To be honest, I wasn't looking forward to it as much as I had done before because it's been a very long year.

"But I've got into it now. We've been treated very well and I'm really enjoying it."

Lining up alongside Crabtree in the front row will be Leeds winger Ashley Gibson, who has caught the eye playing at centre so far but switches to hooker with Leeds-team Matt Diskin ruled out with a leg injury.

"Ashley Gibson ably filled in when Matt Diskin went off so I have every confidence that he will do a good job for us in the front row," said Cullen.

Wakefield centre Ryan Atkins keeps his place after scoring a hat-trick of tries on his debut in Sunday's 38-14 win over Samoa and Leeds back row forward Jamie Jones Buchanan returns to the side following the birth of his son.

Skipper Rob Purdham makes his third positional switch of the tournament, moving back to the centre after also appearing at stand-off and loose forward.

The match will give Wigan winger Mark Calderwood the chance to continue his outstanding tryscoring rate in representative matches. He has registered 22 tries in 17 matches, including four hat-tricks, and scored one try in England's defeat of Tonga last month.

England: C Ashton (Wigan); D Hodgson (Salford), R Purdham (Harlequins, capt), R Atkins (Wakefield), M Calderwood (Wigan); P Cooke (Hull), J Rooney (Wakefield); E Crabtree (Huddersfield), A Gibson (Leeds), R Bailey (Leeds), L Radford (Hull), J Jones Buchanan (Leeds), B Ferres (Bradford). Subs: L Smith (Leeds), E Dowes (Hull), G Horne (Hull), N Scruton (Leeds).