ENGLAND started with an insult but New Zealand enjoyed the last laugh.

In between those two junctures, a crowd of 15,145 witnessed an intriguing World Cup rugby league group match at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Saturday night, eventually won by the Kiwis 36-24.

The result had no bearing on the overall tournament, as both teams will again do battle this time with far higher stakes in Saturday night's opening semi-final at Suncorp Stadium.

But psychologically, at least, it was hard to escape the feeling that the Kiwis had landed a significant blow, albeit in a game many were describing as a dead rubber.

With England leading 24-8 five minutes before half-time, the large barmy army of British supporters were no doubt relieved that their team had bounced back positively after the 52-4 hammering by Australia six days previously.

But by the 55th minute, the Kiwis fired up by a half-time spray from coach Stephen Kearney had drawn level.

They eventually coasted to victory against an England outfit who conceded 28 unanswered points and faded as badly as some of those overseas runners in last week's Melbourne Cup.

England, admittedly, rested a host of first-choice players, including game-breakers Leon Pryce and Danny McGuire.

But the Kiwis gave skipper Nathan Cayless a night off and were also depleted by a first-half injury to their best player, Manly centre Steve Matai, who was carried from the field on a stretcher with his neck in a brace.

Post-match reports indicated Matai was still a chance of taking his place in the semi-final. The question is whether England can stage a similarly remarkable recovery in the space of seven days.

On the evidence shown on Saturday, and indeed in all three of their World Cup games, they simply don't have the stamina.

Props Adrian Morley and Jamie Peacock monstered the Kiwis in the early exchanges, but as the game progressed, New Zealand started dominating out wide.

On the left flank, New Zealand winger Manu Vatuvei crossed for four tries, and England's edge defenders will be suffering insomnia this week worrying about how they are going to contain the 112-kilogram colossus known appropriately as "The Beast".

England's capitulation left coach Tony Smith disappointed and "a bit angry" about their lack of killer instinct.

He knows if they make the same mistakes on Saturday, their tournament will be over.

What seemed to worry Smith most was that, rather than improve on their display against Australia, he felt his team's form had actually deteriorated.

"We've got to be stronger and when we get in a position, go on with it," Smith said.

"That's what we've got to learn . . . there's all sorts of things that we've got to get angrier about and make sure don't happen."

The Kiwis, in contrast, were exuding a quiet confidence after the match the type of positive vibe that comes from winning despite playing well below maximum capacity.

Kearney said his half-time rocket was "animated" and "not one you like giving" but had the desired result.

"In the second half we showed what we are capable of," Kearney said.

"But next week's totally different. England had a number of key players out tonight.

"We'll take the positives out of tonight, but we know what we're up against."

New Zealand's victory was the perfect response after England's players ignored the pre-match haka and formed a team huddle, an act Kiwis skipper Benji Marshall described as "disrespectful".

Smith, however, was making no apologies.

"Where we come from we get in a huddle. That is what we do, whether people are doing the haka or not," he said.

"When our players in England want to pump each other up that is what we do.

"I'm not sure you should stand there and take it as a victim. In some cultures some people may find getting a tongue poked out at them quite offensive as well.

"Come on . . . what should we do? You tell me."

A committed, resilient effort for the full 80 minutes would be a good place to start.