Tri-Nations 06: Game Five: Great Britain Lions v New Zealand Kiwis

[Grimmace]

Cutting Cayless a tough call
By Steve Mascord
November 08, 2006 BRIAN McClennan has described the axing of 11-Test veteran Jason Cayless as his toughest decision since becoming New Zealand coach.

NZ yesterday omitted Tame Tupou, Jerome Ropati, Cayless and - of course - Nathan Fien from a reshuffled side to play Great Britain at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

The Lions side, announced late last night, is unchanged with Brian Carney still on the wing and Danny McGuire 18th man.

Returning for the Kiwis are winger Shontayne Hape, centre Steve Matai and hooker Dene Halatau while Nigel Vagana goes from centre to five-eighth and Adam Blair is on the bench.

"Preferring Adam Blair for this game over Jason Cayless is probably the hardest decision I've had to make for the Kiwis," McClennan said.

Source: Daily Telegraph.

[Grimmace]

Kidwell Ready for Physical Lions
Tuesday, November 7, 2006 - 4:09 PM

Fiery New Zealand forward David Kidwell says the suspension and fine handed down to Australia?s Willie Mason for punching won?t force the Kiwis to change their physical approach to Saturday night?s must win Gillette Tri Nations clash with Great Britain in Wellington.

All of the games so far in the series have featured some tough, physical encounters and Kidwell himself was the centre of a storm after game one following a big hit on Mason in Auckland.

Both sides are predicting this to be the toughest game of the series so far with New Zealand out of finals calculation if they lose and Kidwell says they won?t be toning down their physical play despite the tournament?s first suspension.

?Stick to your guns, we play with pride and passion we won?t be backing down and I?d say the English team won?t be either.

They?ve got quite a big forward pack and we?ve got quite a young forward pack so it?ll be interesting on Saturday night.

It?s a must win game for us and we?ll be going out all guns blazing.?

Great Britain has already put the win over Australia behind them and say they are purely focussed on Saturday night?s game in Wellington and won?t be caught off guard.

Kidwell says he expects nothing less.

?Oh yeah for sure, and we are too that?s why it?s shaping as a cracker of a game.?

Great Britain?s big name prop Stuart Fielden continues to recover from the broken nose that earned Willie Mason a suspension but Kidwell doesn?t expect him to hold back this weekend.

?Obviously Stuart comes with a big reputation and once he starts going forward they get their roll on just like any front rowers at any team giving room to the backs. He?s had a couple of quiet tests to his standards but I?m sure he?ll be fired up for us come Saturday night.?

The Kiwis have made 6 changes to the side that beat Great Britain 2 weeks ago before ultimately losing the points for playing an ineligible player, Nathan Fien.

Kidwell says the return of Steve Matai, Shontayne Hape and Dene Halatau from injury will be a big boost.

?It?s good to have them back, it?s good to have your full 17 out there and I?m sure it was pretty hard for Bluey (Coach Brian McClennan) to pick that full 17 but he?s done it and everyone?s behind us a hundred percent.?

Halatau returns in place of Nathan Fien at hooker and Kidwell says the young Wests Tiger will give them an added spark.

?He gets out of there quick and gives us that extra bit of oomph from dummy half, he?s pretty quick and he?s pretty strong so he gives us that extra edge in that role for sure.?

Kidwell?s former Melbourne team mate Adam Blair has been recalled to the bench and he says he expects big things from the ever improving prop.

?Well deserved I thought, Blairy?s given us a little added edge in the middle and he can play for long periods of time too. When Bluey asked me if Blairy had the right stuff for test football I just knew he did the way he stood up in the semi finals for the Storm.

I?m sure he?s excited and I?m excited for him he?s a young guy with a long future in front of him with the New Zealand rugby league.?

Simon Mannering?s learning curve in test football continues with the rookie who started the season in the centres for the Warriors playing lock in the early tests and now into the second row and Kidwell laughs that the front row can?t be far away now.

?Yeah it usually happens as you get older but he?s getting closer straight away, he?s only 20 but he?s going great guns for us and he handles himself well and there?s no reason why he isn?t going to stay in there and the Warriors might look at that in future years or maybe even next year.?

The Lions have a spring in their step at training this week and the Kiwi second rower says he knows they will be even better on Saturday night than when they beat Australia.

?Like I said with our team with each game we?ve improved and they have as well which makes this a cracker of a game on Saturday in Wellington.?

The Kiwis have had the chance to have a break from the daily grind of training ahead of the first 3 games and Kidwell says they?re better for a week of adventure with Bungy jumping and jet boat racing.

?Pretty refreshed actually, we had a relaxing time down in Queenstown after 3 pretty hard games straight up so all the boys needed a bit of R and R and let the bodies rest. We had a bit of a hit out on Saturday and come up in Wellington pretty refreshed actually.

Those first 3 weeks they were pretty intense test matches you know so it was good to get a break after the long season. Definitely for me it was a long season and those 3 hard tests it was good to get away from footy for awhile and clear the head but its back on now and we?ve got a big game this Saturday night.?

While they may have had time away from football it wasn?t all relaxing with the Granny Gate saga and the stripping of 2 points for playing non New Zealander Nathan Fien following the team everywhere. Kidwell says it was a frustrating time but won?t affect them on the field against Great Britain.

?It was something out of our hands, we?re here to play football for our country and play with the passion and pride that we always do. We spoke about the fact that we?ve got to stick tight and have a good game on Saturday night.

We get paid to play football and that?s what we?re going to do and we?re looking forward to it.?

For the Kiwis it?s the last roll of the dice, a win keeps their chances alive to make the final and have a shot of defending their title, while a loss means Australia will play Great Britain for the title and Kidwell says it?s a situation they have to make the most of.

?Exactly right, our destiny is in our hands and let me tell you it won?t be our last game that?s for sure.?
Source: NRL

[Grimmace]

Fielden quiet over mum's death
By Laine Clark
November 08, 2006 THE real reason behind highly-rated Great Britain prop Stuart Fielden's disappointing Tri-Nations rugby league campaign start has been revealed - he's grieving the recent death of his mother.

The Wigan enforcer had to be persuaded to take part in the tour to Australia and New Zealand after his mother Marylyn died of liver cancer just a month ago.

Fielden has come in for criticism after a quiet opening to the tournament, having arrived with a reputation as arguably the world's best prop.

It was thought a knee injury had hampered his Tri-Nations start but Fielden's brother Jamie said his sibling was finding it hard to come to terms with the loss of their mother.

He said he wanted to reveal the situation "to put everything into perspective".

"Mum and Stuart were very close, as were the rest of us. She went to watch every single game he played," Jamie Fielden told Sporting Life website.

"When he found out about her illness he had planned to take mum and her friend to Australia to watch the games, but she deteriorated at such a rapid rate.

"It all happened very quickly and it hit Stuart hard.

"She died very shortly before they were due to set off for Australia, but we persuaded him to go because that's what she would have wanted.

"He has still to come to terms with it in his head."

In a cruel twist it has also been disclosed that Fielden, 27, had to be told again of his mother's death by teammates after he was concussed by a Willie Mason punch last weekend.

Fielden was left groggy by Mason's right hook - which earned the Kangaroos forward a one match ban - in last Saturday's memorable 23-12 win over Australia at Sydney.

"Apparently, after he took that blow to his head, he couldn't remember much and he thought mum was still here. The team had to tell him again," Jamie Fielden said.

"Stuart's doing it tough at the moment but he will bounce back. He just needs time.

"He might need to miss this next game against the Kiwis to get over his knee injury and get his head right.

"I speak to him all the time and I love him to death. I'm the proudest brother in the world."

Great Britain coach Brian Noble had hinted that Fielden was close to returning to his best and that he would select the Wigan prop for the Lions' Tri-Nations clash against New Zealand on Saturday night.

Victory would take the Brits through to the final in Sydney on November 25.

AAP

[jenny]

Poor Buggar! Thats sad!
Its a load to carry thats for sure! Its hard enough losing a parent under normal circumstances..

[Go_The_Doggies]

Aww thats so sad about Stuart Fielden

[Grimmace]

Lions name unchanged team
From correspondents in London
November 08, 2006 GREAT Britain has named an unchanged side for the Tri-Nations Test against New Zealand on Saturday, with star wing Brian Carney having proved his fitness.

Carney sustained a hamstring injury in the stunning 23-12 win over Australia in Sydney last weekend, but he is fit to feature as the Lions look to secure a place in the final.

With New Zealand having been deducted two competition points for fielding an ineligible player, Nath Fien, in the second match of the series against Australia, the Lions will book a final date against Australia if they win in Wellington this weekend.

Lions coach Brian Noble's decision to stick with the same starting XIII means star five-eighth Danny McGuire may have to be content with a place on the bench.

The Leeds star featured in the 18-14 loss to the Kiwis the weekend before last, but he missed the victory against Australia with a thigh muscle injury.

He is ready to return to action but Noble is happy to stick with the halves combination of Sean Long and Leon Pryce.

Pryce was moved from wing to link with Long as a result of McGuire's injury, and he will retain the five-eighth jumper.

Hull wing Gareth Raynor, who scored the decisive try in Sydney, also remains in the side.

McGuire was named as one of five replacements, with one to be omitted in due course.

Prop Stuart Fielden will play despite having his nose broken by Willie Mason in the incident last week that has since seen the Australia forward banned for one game.

Noble is again set to use Adrian Morley as an impact player off the reserves bench.

Great Britain line-upPaul Wellens; Brian Carney, Keith Senior, Kirk Yeaman, Gareth Raynor; Leon Pryce, Sean Long; Stuart Fielden, Terry Newton, Jamie Pea**** (captain); Gareth Ellis, Gareth Hock; Sean O'Loughlin. Interchange: James Roby, Adrian Morley, Lee Gilmour, Jon Wilkin, Danny McGuire (one to be omitted).
www.foxsports.com.au

[Grimmace]

Long way to Tri Nations title for Kiwis
Thursday, November 9, 2006 - 2:15 PM

New Zealand coach Brian McClennan says the Kiwis must stop Great Britain halfback Sean Long on Saturday night if the Tri Nations champions are to keep their title defence alive.

Long tormented the Australian side in Sydney last week, overcoming a heavy early hit from renegade second rower Willie Mason to lead the Lions to a memorable 23-12 win.

With the Kiwis deducted points for the Nathan Fien eligibility saga, New Zealand must win Saturday's clash by a healthy margin and hope the Kangaroos bounce the Lions in Brisbane next week.

But McClennan wants his side to focus on shutting down Long and wait for the floodgates to open in the final 10 minutes.

"(Long's) hit a purple patch," said McClennan.

"He was outstanding. He's had a big year, he's one of their key players. We understand when Sean Long plays well, it makes our job harder. It's up to us to make it a difficult night for him."

"You've got to play the percentages, you've got to earn the right to chance your arm. You only earn that right by winning some territory and getting a fair share of ball.

"If we can fatigue the other team, the floodgates could open in the final 10 minutes."

Kiwis prop Nathan Cayless also said it was important the players did not focus on the scoreboard, otherwise it could turn into some ugly reading by the end of the night.

"It's a Test match, you want to win it first. That's what it's all about," said Cayless.

"Maybe the last 10-20 minutes we might start looking at the scoreboard but the first 60 or so is about trying to grind out a win.

"If we go out there trying to concentrate on the scoreboard and how much we've got to win by we'll get beaten.

"It's as simple as that."

Great Britain coach Brian Noble expects the Kiwis to be much stronger than they were when they defeated his side 18-14 in Christchurch two weeks ago.

Noble said the Kiwis are likely to throw the ball around in the pursuit of a big win.

"The New Zealanders have themselves been aggrieved and have got a chip on their shoulder over the way they've been treated," said Noble, referring to the Fien drama.

"It's a slightly different threat to the one we had against Australia. They probably have a few more bigger people who are good, skilful big people that can offload the ball. They're physically demanding, they're hard hitters, and they carry the ball really strong.

"They've got a smart halfback in Stacey Jones and a quick fullback in Brent Webb, but the reality is they need to beat us to score some points so they might be looking at a more expansive game in relation to their offloads."

Source: AAP

[Go_The_Doggies]

Poor Bluey, he is under fire from the NZ media. 3/4's of them are calling for him to resign. He was like to a TV One reporter yesterday cos he was asked should he do the honorable thing .. and he was like "we're not thinking about that, we're thinking about going out there and playing for our country, thank you very much" then he walked off.

I love him. <3

[Grimmace]

Wellens: Long will step up again
Friday, November 10, 2006 - 10:22 AM

Great Britain and St.Helens fullback Paul Wellens may be the man of steel in the European Super League but he thinks his team mate for club and Country, Sean Long, is the go to man for the Lions when they play New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday night in the Gillette Tri Nations.

The St. Helens halfback has long been described as a superstar at club football but unable to step up at International level, that was until last Saturday night when he led Great Britain to a stunning 23-12 win over Australia at Aussie Stadium.

Long was everywhere for the Lions, including on the wrong end of a hit that landed the Kangaroos Willie Mason on report, and Wellens says it was great to see Long fulfil his potential for his country.

?I?ve played with Sean Long for 8 years now and he?s a player who produces on the big occasions. 3 Lance Todds (trophy presented to the man of the match in the UK?s Challenge Cup), he?s kicked winning goals in the Grand Finals in the last minute and now he?s shown he?s a player of pure class and I?m sure Sean will kick on from this.?

Great Britain can eliminate New Zealand from the series with a win or draw in Wellington but Wellens knows how desperate the Kiwis will be and how revved up the crowd will be after they were docked their only 2 points for fielding an ineligible player in Nathan Fien earlier in the tournament.

?Yes it?s something we?re really looking forward to obviously New Zealand will be a little bit miffed over the two points they?ve lost, but that?s nothing to do with us we?ve just got to go and be professional and go about or job again.

I?m sure if we apply ourselves we can get the job done again.?

The Lions have an added spring in their step following the win over Australia but Wellens says the celebrations didn?t last long and they?re in game mode.

?It was important to enjoy ourselves but it was back to training Monday and we?ve raised the bar and will continue to improve.?

While Great Britain has improved since their opening match against the Kiwis, the New Zealanders will be fired up knowing its all or nothing in this match and the Lions fullback is confident they can make another step up in class.

?It?s like play off football or origin these test matches, inches are very important and you have to fight for them, we?ve had some guys come up with some massive plays for us to deny the Australians on quite a few occasions and that?s something we?re going to have to continue to do throughout the tournament.?

The Great Britain side was written off before the tournament with many experts saying they wouldn?t win a game. The last time they played at Aussie Stadium they were beaten 64-10 by Australia but Wellens says no one in the camp mentioned that night.

?Yeah, I was unfortunately part of that team that got beaten that night so I?ve got bitter memories of that night and it was important we put that out of our minds. Different group of players, different ideas, different mentality and that showed on the night.?

The Lions also surprised many by the way the players composed themselves and got on with the game after Willie Mason?s blow up with Stuart Fielden. Mason was later suspended and fined for the punch.

The Lions settled quickly back into the game and Wellens says it?s a sign of their maturity.

?We?ve probably been guilty in the past of letting emotions take over and start throwing haymakers and taking our minds off the game. I think it?s important now that we want to be serious about our football and we want to win big test matches. You take the emotion out of it, you?ve got to play smart football and I think we did that.?

Great Britain Coach Brian Noble was particularly pleased with the way his team finished both halves as strongly as they started them and Wellens says it was the result of a lot of hard work.

?That was very pleasing. We as a group new we had that in us, probably a lot of people don?t feel that, but we were very confident going into the game and we had a game plan that we stuck to and we ended up getting the result.?

The 26-year-old is the current UK man of steel, the players player award, and has already played 228 Super League games but is keen to play down his amazing durability.

?I?ve been pretty fortunate, when I?ve had injuries they?ve been at the end of seasons so I?ve had time to recuperate and touch wood I continue to stay injury free and keep performing.

I?ve been fortunate enough to have the backing of a great club like St. Helens and when I?ve come to the International stage that backings continued.

I?m just enjoying my football at the moment and hopefully it can continue from strength to strength.?

It?s the first time the Tri Nations has been played fully outside of England and Wellens says being on tour has allowed them to become more committed as a team.

?I think when you?re away from home and your families you tend to miss the wife and kids and you stay united together and I?ve been more than surprised with how tight we are.

These guys go out on the field and we?re prepared to die for each other and I?m sure that shows on the field.?

Following the upset win over Australia the Lions have thrown the series wide open but the down side is they won?t be able to keep preparing out of the spotlight but Wellens isn?t too concerned by that.

?Maybe so, but that?s not something we?re going to be concerned about we just have to get on with the job and keep working hard, whatever?s written in the papers well so be it, we?ll just continue to try and improve.?

Source: NRL

[Future Star]

aww - poor Fielden, I was wondering why he didnt do so well in the 1st game (in the 2nd, i guess its coz he was snappend by Big Willie).


I hope he does well this game - after all he is the best prop in the world (take that Asotasi and O'Meley, I can't say anything about Petero he is awesome!).
He has been periodically calld the 2nd best with webcke around, now there is really no doubt.


GO THE LIONS!

[DIEHARD]

Shame McGuire didnt make the team, although it is not surprising that they picked the same team that beat the Aussies.

Go Lions!

[Grimmace]

Carney succumbs to hamstring
From staff writers with wires
November 10, 2006 GREAT Britain rugby league wing Brian Carney has been rubbed out of the Tri-Nations Test against New Zealand in Wellington tomorrow night.

The Irishman, who was initially passed fit to play, was ruled out tonight after feeling the hamstring strain he sustained against Australia in Sydney last weekend.

Leon Pryce, who played five-eighth last week, has been returned to the wing.

Leeds pivot Danny McGuire, who played against the Kiwis in Christchurch last month, was recalled to partner Sean Long in the halves after missing last week's win over Australia with a leg injury.

Lock Sean O'Loughlin was also ruled out for unspecified reasons.

Lions captain Jamie Pea**** moves from the front row to replace O'Loughlin, with former Sydney Roosters forward Adrian Morley promoted to the starting line-up.


Source: www.foxsports.com.au

[jenny]

OMG!!!!! whose gonna tell Mel :')
She loves him!

[jenny]

McGuire a Noble choice

By Steve Mascord in Wellington

November 11, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph

GREAT Britain coach Brian Noble has admitted he is likely to change a winning team by pitching Leeds sensation Danny McGuire into tonight's Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand - despite winger Brian Carney being passed fit.

Carney pulled a hamstring chasing Greg Inglis in the 23-12 win over Australia last Saturday night, with five-eighth McGuire named 18th man and expected to replace him, forcing Leon Pryce back to the wing.

Speaking after a closed training session at match venue Westpac Stadium yesterday, Noble said Carney would certainly play but conceded McGuire would most likely also play in GB's first Wellington Test since 1924.

"We'll leave that decision until an hour before the kick-off but there's a strong chance he may play a part, yes," Noble told The Saturday Daily Telegraph.

"He's fine. He got real close last week. He's trained fully without any treatment.

"He's a dangerous attacking player.

"Everybody's talking about defence in this tournament and how good it's been. Sometimes you need somebody who can break the game open, don't you?

"You've still got to score points to win games."

Winger Gareth Raynor, who scored the match-sealing try last weekend, could be the surprise casualty if Carney and McGuire both start tonight's match, for which some 15,000 tickets have now been sold.

Kiwis coach Brian McClennan said of McGuire: "If he plays, he plays. If not, we've prepared for Pryce."

The British have been evasive about the nature of Stuart Fielden's knee injury.

"It wasn't as serious as we first thought.

"He looks fine and strong. We're hoping he'll go this week. The switch will be there and he'll be what we know he is."

In their final pool game, New Zealand can draw level with Great Britain on the Tri-Nations table if they win by 14 points tonight. The Kiwis must then rely on Australia to defeat Great Britain at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday in order to defend their title in the final.

[Future Star]

If McGuire and Carney play - expect Lions to win a close one.

If not - I think New Zealand can grind it out and win (but they need to almost certainly flogg them to make the finals)

The Kiwis are going to be very passionate after granny-gate so expect fire-works early, probally involving Morley and Fielden.

Its going to be a great game - some very heavy hits and alot of Passion out there.
...cant wait.