Kangaroos expect big Kiwi forwards to come out blazing
LONDON: Australian league Test great Allan ''Alfie'' Langer has warned the Kangaroos forwards to expect a bruising encounter as they prepare for New Zealand to bash them up the middle in their Four Nations tournament opener.
But the Kiwis deny they have stacked their side with forwards for tomorrow morning's Test in London, and say they have fielded a well-balanced team capable of matching Australia in the footballing department as well.
Langer, the Kangaroos assistant coach, said last night: ''We have to make sure that our forwards are ready to play because they have got a lot of work to do. Hopefully, they're up for that because it's going to be tough.
''You don't have to be a fool to look at our back line and see how good it is. But if our forwards don't match theirs, our backs can't come into the game ? hopefully they get plenty of room to move.''
He was echoing head coach Tim Sheens, who said there was ''no doubt'' the Kiwis team had been picked with the intention of the game becoming a forwards battle.
''You can pick straight away what they are going to do. If the back line is our strength then the forward pack is theirs.
''They are a big bunch of forwards with skilful footwork and offloads, and I can see what Stephen [Kearney] is going to do - he is going to come hard at us, and that's a challenge for us because most of the talk about this Australian side is the super back line; so they are looking at our forwards as the soft underbelly and attacking us there. It really is a challenge for our forward pack to stand up and be counted.''
But Kiwis assistant coach Tony Iro said: ''I think both sides will play to their strengths, but we've picked a well-balanced side.''
And Iro denied that the Kangaroos back line had a clear edge over the Kiwis backs, saying: ''Certainly, we will have to be very good in those areas, but we also know we have as much firepower as them. I suppose their big advantage is they have played a lot of rep football together, not just for Australia but for Queensland.
''We're under no illusions about the task ahead, but I think Test football, like the NRL, if every one of your players can give it their best shot, you are just as much chance as anyone to beat Australia.''
Despite that assertion, Langer - one of league's best halfbacks - was happy to declare that Kangaroos No.7 Johnathon Thurston was in career-best form.
But the halfback being talked about on match eve was Kiwis skipper Benji Marshall, with Sheens revealing some factions at Wests Tigers wanted Marshall gone from the NRL club this year - then went on to declare him one of the biggest factors in tonight's game.
Sheens is convinced New Zealand will try to dominate the rucks, get quick play-the-balls for hooker Issac Luke to create time for Marshall to play his game.
But, as his club coach, Sheens knows Marshall better than anyone, and like his players, has 'fessed up. Before preparing tip sheets, he asked all his men to dish on their club teammates in the Kiwis side.
It's a confrontation that throws up some intriguing mate versus mate contests: not least the head-to-head left-side second-row battle between Penrith teammates Trent Waterhouse and Frank Pritchard.
Source: http://www.leaguehq.com.au