Tri-Nations 06: Game Three; Kiwis vs Lions

[Queenslander]

Tri-Nations 2006: Game Three

NEW ZEALAND KIWIS vs GREAT BRITAIN LIONS
Saturday 28 October, 8.00PM; Jade Stadium

Referee: Paul Simpkins

Team Notes:

Kiwis

Tri-Nations 06 Stats: Wins: 0 Losses: 2; Points For: 33 Points Against: 50

Are the defending champions of the Tri-Nations tournament.

Were defeated 20 - 15 by the Kanagaroos last round

Brian McClennan today made four changes for the Tri-Nations rugby league Test with Great Britain in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Two were forced, with wing Shontayne Hape and centre Steve Matai ruled out with injuries picked up in the 20-15 loss to Australia in Melbourne last Saturday.

Tame Tupou has been named to replace Hape, with the experienced Nigel Vagana moving from five eighth to centre and Jerome Ropati partnering Stacey Jones in the halves.

McCleannan named Frank Pritchard to replace Tony Puletua in the second row.

Lions

Tri-Nations 06 Stats: Wins: 0 Losses: 0; Points For: 0 Points Against: 0

First match in the 06 Tri-Nations tournament

Great Britain coach Brian Noble has named his side for the first Tri-Nations hit-out against New Zealand in Christchurch this Saturday.

The Lions will be looking to build on their opening trial performance in Newcastle at the weekend, which they won 40-6, when they face a desperate Kiwi's side yet to register a win in the tournament after a heart-breaking loss to Australia at Telstra Dome.

KIWIS

Brent Webb
Tame Tupou
Nigel Vagana
Iosia Soliola
Manu Vatuvei
Jerome Ropati
Stacey Jones
Ruben Wiki (c)
Nathan Fien
Roy Asotasi
David Kidwell
Frank Pritchard
Simon Mannering

Interchange:

Motu Tony
Nathan Cayless
Jason Cayless
David Fa'alogo
Adam Blair

LIONS

Paul Wellens
Brian Carney
Martin Gleeson
Keith Senior
Leon Pryce
Danny McGuire
Sean Long
Stuart Fielden
Terry Newton
Adrian Morley
Jamie Pea**** (c)
Gareth Ellis
Sean O'Loughlin

Interchange:

James Roby
Garreth Carvell
Gareth Hock
Lee Gilmour
Jon Wilkin

***Please use this thread for Tri Nations Game Two information and game day spoilers***

[zacaroo]

can't wait and see how nz go, they played well last week and might be able to catch g/b off guard..

[Robbie_Dee]

yeah i think that NZ will come out strong, if they continue their from over, they should go pretty good.

[zacaroo]

i would like to see the great britain team that is going to be selected as i think they will face a really tough task

[Queenslander]

No weak links here, claims Noble
By Ray Chesterton
October 23, 2006

GREAT BRITAIN coach Brian Noble says his team is not the weak link in this year's Tri-Nations series despite the impressive form of Australia and New Zealand.

Noble said his forwards, led by powerful prop Stuart Fielden, can match the power and size of opposing packs and had backs who could be match winners.

"We won't be intimidated by size or physical prowess," Noble said. "We have some big athletic units."

The Lions are facing a credibility test in the Tri-Nations after failing to make last year's final.

Failure this year will corrode their claims to be one of the top two sides in rugby league.

Noble said they were aware of the difficulties they faced in the series, including disruptive travel schedules and having to play an opening round against the match-hardened Kiwis this weekend.

He said the same thing happened last year and the loss to a Kiwi side that had already played two matches, had been a major setback.

"This year we've had the Newcastle game (last Friday night) and preparation during the season to get us more up to speed than last year," he said.

"Adrian Morley says we are the fittest group of people he's worked with in an international side.

"We're a good team of footballers but we have to hit the ground running."

Noble said last Saturday night's Australia-NZ clash was a 'bashathon between two very big physical teams".

"They were also very skilled. We have to watch that as well," he added. Noble said some of his team had not played for six weeks and were rusty with the ball at training.

"But we're up for a tough challenge," he said.

Australia's consecutive wins against the Kiwis should ensure they make the final, leaving the Kiwis and Great Britain chasing the other spot.

"For us to be successful we've got five Test matches on the run against the two best sides in the world," Noble said.

"Any team can beat the others on the day and we just have to make sure we will be competitive."

The Lions will look to 115kg Fielden to lead the way.

"He's a bit of a beast in terms of size but he's a good athlete as well," Noble said.

"He likes to play 80 minutes each week and he's very determined."

The Daily Telegraph

[Go_The_Doggies]

Injury headaches for Kiwis
Oct 23, 2006

The Kiwis have touched down in Christchurch ahead of Saturday's Tri Nations league test against Great Britain.

But there's already a lingering injury headaches, stemming from the weekend's heartbreaking lost to the Kangaroos in Melbourne.

Shontayne Hape is battling a knee problem, which he sustained in the opening minute on Saturday but played through.

Meanwhile competition for places is sure to be heat up at training this week, with UK based Motu Tony and Jason Cayless back from the Superleague and hoping to push for a start.

Kiwis Assistant coach Tony Iro says the duo joined the squad earlier in the week and have been in the camp for the last three days.

He says they'll be well over their jet lag and raring to go.

Tony Iro says while Hape's the only major injury concern, centre Steve Matai does have a tender shoulder but they're hopeful he'll be fine.


Source: Newstalk ZB

[Go_The_Doggies]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO *cries*

Man i'm so gutted, Shontayne was one of our best on Saturday night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tame best play well.

[Capital_Shark]

After the Kiwi's performance last Saturday I can see this being a long night at the office for the Poms. Hopefully the Poms have done some work on burning out before 80 minutes is up and we can have some decent competition. I'd like to see Britain get up though.

[RIP]

go kiwis a must need win. hape was awesome chuck him in2 lock

[Go_The_Doggies]

go kiwis a must need win. hape was awesome chuck him in2 lock

Hes injured.

[Queenslander]

Kiwis Vs Lions Preview
Monday, October 23, 2006 - 4:49 PM

Great Britain will enter the fray this Saturday and if their talk is anything to go by, they will take it to the Kiwis. That would ensure a high impact, physical game that may not yield the most points but will certainly be a throwback to years gone by, when test matches were all about physicality.

The likes of Jamie Pea****, Adrian Morley, Stuart Fielden and Andy Coley all like to play a physical style of Rugby League, particularly Morley who Australian fans will recognise as a big hitter but his teammates do not lack anything in that department either. The Lions will take it up to the big Kiwi pack, and try and test the likes of Ruben Wiki, David Kidwell and Roy Asotasi.

The Kiwis would have to be hurting after capitulating against Australia despite leading 15-8 with just eight minutes left on the clock, and perhaps the strength and size that served them so well, in the early part of the game let them down at the end, when they failed to ?go? with the likes of Inglis and Hunt. The impending return of Frank Pritchard who turned on a dazzling display against the Australian Invitational team for New Zealand ?A? would help them in that respect.

That said there will be no respite against the touring Lions team who will not only look to make the game physical but look for gaps later in the game, and their halves in Danny McGuire and Sean Long are more than capable of running plays that will open up the Kiwis. If they are successful at splitting the Kiwis then expect the likes of Brian Carney and Martin Aspinwall to be in support and looking to score.

The Kiwis will look to take advantage of their size across the park, especially in the backline, where wingers Manu Vatuvei and Tame Tupou should be able to use their size and strength to great effect on the smaller British backs.

The Kiwi backline will be reshuffled somewhat though, with both Steve Matai (shoulder) and Shontayne Hape (knee) struggling with injury. This will give Tame Tupou another chance on the wing, while Simon Mannering may move to the centres, alternatively, coach Brian McLennan may look to rookie Ben Roberts, who scored three tries for New Zealand ?A? and has a touch of Benji Marshall magic about him, which may be just what the Kiwis need

The Kiwis will also look to the air via the boot of Stacey Jones, using a play that caused problems for the Kangaroos last week and should do similar against the touring Lions, who have a winger in Carney who is not all that safe under the bomb.

Key Match Up

Manu Vatuvei Vs Brian Carney

Both men had outstanding seasons in the NRL and will be looking to carry that form into the Tri-Nations series. Vatuvei looked dangerous in both outings against the Kangaroos and his size and strength was a major factor in those displays as was his vastly improved defence. Carney can be overpowered but his speed and willingness to get to the try line will worry Vatuvei who will have to be on his game to keep the Irishman, who was the Dally M Winger of the year out.

Best Bet:

Great Britain were quick to claim that they were a bit rusty after their hit out in Newcastle, and equally quick to claim underdog status for the tournament. However they have a good mix of youth and experience, and will not go down without a fight. The Kiwis should win, but it will be close, so back them by 1-12 points.

New Zealand have a habit of starting well and their big forwards score a lot of tries, so if you are looking for first try scorer go for Ruben Wiki who is sure to be value.

Source: NRL

[zacaroo]

hape seems like a pretty good player, some team sign him into the nrl..he would be a good addition to the struggling nz warriors, pity he got injured though, he was my top pick of the nz players on field saturday night..

[Capital_Shark]

hape seems like a pretty good player, some team sign him into the nrl..he would be a good addition to the struggling nz warriors, pity he got injured though, he was my top pick of the nz players on field saturday night..

I doubt the Warriors could squeze him under the cap. They're gonna abide by those rules next year, right?

[Go_The_Doggies]

hape seems like a pretty good player, some team sign him into the nrl..he would be a good addition to the struggling nz warriors, pity he got injured though, he was my top pick of the nz players on field saturday night..

Personally I don't see how the Warriors are struggling, I mean they only just missed out on a finals spot this year and finished in 9th position. I would hardly call that struggling.

[Meh]

Personally I don't see how the Warriors are struggling, I mean they only just missed out on a finals spot this year and finished in 9th position. I would hardly call that struggling.

Well 10th but either way we were in the finals minus the 4 point deduction but they certainly arent struggling, much improved this season and some great signings you should see them in the 8 next year. kiwis should be able to put GB away in this one if they show any resemblence to last weekends performance.