Britain play New Zealand in the Tri-Nations Series this Saturday confident they have the ability to win the tournament despite missing a raft of big-name players.
Vice-captain Brian Carney said the loss of the likes of Paul Sculthorpe, Kris Radlinski, Sean Long and last year’s captain Andy Farrell was ”definitely a loss because they are outstanding players and immensely talented”.
”But sometimes when you are missing your big players, somebody steps up and shows what they can do,” the Irish winger said.
Britain will go into the match at Loftus Road, the home of London soccer side Queens Park Rangers, as underdogs after the Kiwis impressed in the opening two games of the series against Australia, winning the first away and narrowly losing the second at home.
Kiwi coach Brian McClennan will not announce his team until 24 hours before kick-off as a response to what he dubbed the ”cloak and dagger” tactics of British boss Brian Noble.
”We like to name it early for the public’s sake but, if they’re going to do that, we’re going to have to do it too, which is pretty poor,” McClennan said.
”You’ve got programmes that are going to be printed and the fan deserves to have an idea of who’s playing.
”If Great Britain are going to wait until an hour before kick-off, why should we name ours now? They can name a team accordingly. It doesn’t work that way,” he insisted.
Noble, also the Bradford coach, is not the most popular man with the Kiwis.
New Zealand winger Lesley Vainikolo plays his club rugby for the Super League side but will not feature for the Kiwis in England after the Bulls announced on Monday he would be undergoing knee surgery.
McClennan said that decision had caught New Zealand by surprise and voiced fears that the timing may have been influenced by Noble’s Great Britain role.
Noble was quick to play down such suggestions, but clubmate and Britain winger Leon Pryce said Vainikolo’s absence would definitely be a blow to New Zealand.
”I would have liked to play against him because he’s such a good player,” said Pryce.
”He’s also a good friend of mine. But I’ve seen him trample on many a winger in his time at Bradford and I wouldn’t like to have been one of those wingers.
”In my opinion, he’s the best winger in the world, without a shadow of doubt. He’ll be missed by New Zealand but obviously it’s a gain for Great Britain.”
The Kiwis will also be without hooker or half-back Lance Hohia, who is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained in their opening 38-28 win over Australia in Sydney, but centre Clinton Toopi has recovered from a knee injury.
”There might be some changes,” said McClennan. ”It’s horses for courses. Great Britain have a different style of football to Australia and we’ll be picking a side that we think will suit the game.”
Britain have been boosted by the return to fitness of centre Keith Senior (ankle) and skipper Jamie Peacock.
Australia won last year’s Tri-Nations, thrashing Britain 44-4 in the final at Leeds United soccer club’s Elland Road ground in northern England. – AFP
