Four Nations 2014: Five things we learned from week three The so-called understrength Kangaroos were still good enough to power into the Four Nations final. THE Kangaroos put any doubts to bed, while the Poms proved they aren't good enough again. Here's what we took from the Four Nations ... Ahead of this tournament, much of the focus was on the huge list of missing talent. How would Australia cope without so many world-class talents? Was the mass pull-out demeaning the Four Nations? Surely no one's wondering about either of those now. The Kangaroos have proved against England and Samoa that, even without their very best players, they still have enough talent to take on the world. The opening loss to New Zealand was just the first step on the road for the next generation of Roos, and the gritty win over England, followed by Sunday's demolition of Samoa, proved that the more these youngsters play together, the better they will get. Aaron Woods was excellent again in the forwards and well supported by Canterbury's Dave Klemmer, who bagged his first try for Australia, and the rest of the Aussie pack. We always wondered what would happen if we sent out the Australia B team - now we have the answer. And we'll see just how far they can go in the final against New Zealand next week. Tim Sheens defied to critics to take Australia into the final. All that anxiety over whether Australia might miss the final now seems misplaced. With so many players opting out of the Four Nations, Sheens opted for revolution over evolution and after a slight wobble against New Zealand, the players have responded. Granted, this squad is far from the finished product - but no one's trying to argue that. If Sheens can get this mixed bunch of superstars and rookies to the final, the argument is over. What else do you want? Sure, Australia might not win the final but losing to New Zealand isn't the end of the world - not with this young, inexperienced squad and not in this tournament. And what the young Roos have gained in experience and understanding under Sheens over the past few weeks will be invaluable in the years to come. Greg Inglis was at his devastating best against Samoa. With two tries against Samoa, the Rabbitohs superstar has already surpassed Bob Fulton and is just one behind Reg Gasnier - and Inglis is still only 27. Inglis now has 27 tries, with only Ken Irvine (33 tries) and Darren Lockyer (35) to overcome to be Australia's greatest tryscorer. Inglis was unstoppable against the Samoans, putting in a man-of-the-match performance that powered the green and gold into the Four Nations final - and with up to six years left in his Test career, it is impossible to not see him setting an almost unreachable new record. Sunday's game against Samoa was good viewing for partisan Aussie fans but lacked any spark for any casual viewers trying to get in on the Four Nations. Instead, the closer-fought games have been much more enjoyable as a spectacle. With league's ever-increasing self-doubt about its ability to attract new fans, real competition is the best way to garner interest. The Kangaroos" razor-edge win against England last week, and the hugely entertaining battle between the Kiwis and the Poms in Dunedin on Saturday have been absolute joys to watch and a poke in the eye for those who thought the Four Nations had little to offer. As much as we enjoy Australia's success, running roughshod over every other nation all the time doesn't do the code any favours. Fiji should certainly join the tournament next time - and maybe, just maybe, Australia should give its world-beaters a couple of weeks off again ... Following on from the above point, the Poms have put in two very good performances against New Zealand and Australia - and come away with nothing. Putting any schadenfreude aside for a minute, England should be applauded for the way they've gone about attacking the opposition in this tournament. The backs, especially big winger Ryan Hall, have been quick, powerful and inventive and they have gone into each game with no fear. But yet again, England have just lacked that edge of class, the final finishing touch of real champions. Given their displays so far, it doesn't look like a lack of quality but rather a mental failing - the all-too-common English sporting disease that besets the Poms with vertigo any time they get too far in any sporting arena. It's all very well to applaud their performances but it is results that count - and if the response in the UK press is anything to go by, those two results look set to cost coach Steve McNamara his job. Originally published as Four Nations: Five things we learned