English stars Sam Burgess and James Graham square off in Bulldogs v Rabbitohs clash

ENGLISH giants Sam Burgess and James Graham last night went to war with the Lions internationals almost coming to blows in a fiery encounter.

IT was the battle of Britain. In a long-awaited showdown between two English giants, Sam Burgess and James Graham last night went to war with the Lions internationals almost coming to blows in a fiery encounter.

Squaring off for the first time in the NRL, the two tough men both considered to be among the best forwards in the world rattled ANZ Stadium last night when they eyed each other off and collided in spectacular scenes.

Burgess picked up a dropped ball in his own in-goal and ignored the referee's whistle to charge straight at former Man of Steel Graham.

With his elbow up, Burgess sprinted before thudding into Graham in a 230kg collision.

Not content with the contact, Burgess slammed the ball down before again rushing towards the strawberry blond enforcer with fists clenched.

Never one to give his compatriot an inch, Graham responded and the pair came together before players from both sides rushed in to quell the potential brawl.

Facing Graham, who earned a reputation as the toughest forward in the English Super League, Burgess was a man on a mission from the outset.

Out to prove he is the best English player in the game after three years in the NRL, the towering back-rower launched through the line in the third minute and fired a ball Dylan Farrell who in turn found rookie Justin Hunt for the first try of the night.

But Graham was also out to impress. After watching Burgess forge a reputation as one of the most destructive forwards in the NRL, he made the switch to the Bulldogs from St Helens and the 105kg front-rower came into the match off the bench full of running and anger.

Injected into the game mid-way through the first half, Graham help sparked a Bulldogs comeback with his destructive charges and deft ball-work encouraging a Canterbury pointscoring spree to turn a 12-0 deficit into an 18-12 halftime .

And Burgess was not alone in the battle of the British Bulldogs. In a case of triple trouble, the towering second-rower was joined by two of his brothers with 19-year-old prop George making his debut to join him and Luke.

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