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By Barry Toohey Daily Telegraph - A war was looming last night over the haka, with New Zealand captain Benji Marshall saying it was "offensive" for English players to turn their back on it.  But England coach Tony Smith was happy to return serve, ensuring some extra spice should these teams meet again as expected in a semi-final next Saturday.

"I'm not sure you should have to stand there and take it as a victim,'' Smith said.

"In some some cultures, some people may find getting a tongue poked out at them offensive.''

After their humiliation at the hands of Australia a week ago, England's intentions were clear.

In a show of defiance, they formed a tight huddle, turning their backs on the Kiwis as they performed their haka just metres away.
 
Giant New Zealand winger Manu Vatuvei smashed his way into the record books with four tries. But the Kiwis may be without Manly centre Steve Matai, who was taken from the field on a stretcher in the first half.

Troubled by neck and shoulder injuries for two seasons, Matai's World Cup campaign looks in doubt after he was placed in a neck brace and taken to hospital for precautionary scans.

Vatuvei became only the fourth player to score four tries in a World Cup match, coming up with a second-half hat-trick as the Kiwis overturned a 24-8 halftime deficit.

England got the start they wanted when hooker Mickey Higham took advantage of some soft Kiwi defence to scoot over from dummy-half for a 6-0 lead.

Four minutes later, the big English contingent in the crowd were on their feet after halfback Rob Burrow finished off an 80-metre movement started by Keith Senior.

New Zealand got on the board after 14 minutes, with Vatuvei storming over following a 40-metre burst from centre Jerome Ropati to cut England's lead to 12-4.

The two sides traded tries before Burrow scored his second after the Kiwis were again shown up badly close to their line for England to extend the lead to 16 points by the break.

But the Kiwis piled on 22 unanswered points in the second half to continue England's miserable World Cup campaign.

"We are all angry about it, angry at ourselves,'' Smith said of his England team. ``We have got to get more determined.''

But he said the result would have no impact on next Saturday's likely semi-final showdown.

"We have to make sure we pick the right team,'' he said.

"We have one more shot at it and we could be in a Cup final.''

Despite losing two of their three pool games, England will qualify for next Saturday night's semi-final in Brisbane, provided Papua New Guinea don't beat Australia tonight by two points or more.

New Zealand's first-half effort prompted a spray from coach Stephen Kearney.

"It was not one you like giving, but I thought the circumstances warranted an animated one,'' he said.

"The second half showed what we are capable of.''

It clearly worked with crossing in the corner after lead-up work from Bronson Harrison and Jeremy Smith to reduce the margin to 24-14.

New Zealand dominated the opening 20 minutes of the second half, embarrassing the English defence out wide with decoy runners. Vatuvei's third try levelled the game at 24-all, before he added a fourth to take his place in history.

NEW ZEALAND 36 (M Vatuvei 4 N Fien L Hohaia J Nightingale tries I Luke 3 J Smith goals) bt ENGLAND 24 (R Burrow 2 M Gleeson M Higham tries R Purdham 4 goals) at EnergyAustralia Stadium. Referee: T Archer. Crowd: 15,145.