Kiwis non-committal on Jones for final

[Steelers]

The Kiwis are refusing to say whether champion halfback Stacey Jones will return to the New Zealand camp before Sunday's (AEDT) Tri-Nations final against Australia.

It is unsure whether the potential Tri-Nations match-winner will rush back from the birth of his baby later in the week in Auckland, to play in the final.

"Family comes first," said a Kiwi official at the team's Leeds hotel, confirming Jones had arrived back in New Zealand following New Zealand's unimpressive 38-22 win in Toulouse at the weekend.

With uncertainty surrounding Jones' availability, the New Zealanders are hoping powerful forwards Frank Pritchard and Dally M prop of the year Paul Rauhihi overcome injuries to make the final.

Pritchard, who made a winning Test debut against New Zealand in Brisbane this year, is booked for more testing after suffering a bad head knock in the French Test.

The Penrith forward was sent to hospital for head scans after the Test along with wingers Jake Webster and Manu Vatuvei who both incurred head knocks during the game.

Rauhihi, who is under treatment for a thigh injury, is a lot less doubtful than Pritchard, who is still having headaches.

Fullback Brent Webb warned the Kiwis would need to lift several notches against the Kangaroos after losing badly to Great Britain and then struggling to overcome an enthusiastic French side.

"We were terrible for 70 minutes (against France)," admitted Webb.

"It's going to take a big effort to lift ourselves after the last two games but this is the final and a chance for us to achieve something special."

Australia's players, still recovering from their physical battle with Great Britain at the weekend, enjoyed a relaxing day with an Aussie-style BBQ at a Leeds hotel before coach Wayne Bennett put the clamps on their social activities by ordering an early night.

Halfback Craig Gower has made rapid improvement from a quad injury he suffered in a hurried warm-up before the Great Britain Test and was extremely confident of being fit for the Elland Road final.

Both teams are staying in the same area in Leeds making for an interesting build up to the game.

?AAP 2005

[Super Cronk]

ofcourse jones will play. I dont think it will be enough tho.