England treating NZ as a dead rubber?

[cpwigan]

England will go into Saturday's final World Cup pool match against New Zealand with just two specialist props.

Coach Tony Smith has decided to rest Man of Steel James Graham, along with his St Helens team-mates James Roby and Ade Gardner, for a game that is being seen as a "dead rubber".

I would have thought it ws important to beat NZ prior to the semi. To get some form, continuity etc

[josie andrews]

Warriors pairing Thomas Leuluai and Gareth Hock will face each other on Saturday when New Zealand play England.

However England will go into the final World Cup pool match with just two specialist props.

Coach Tony Smith has decided to rest Man of Steel James Graham, along with his St Helens team-mates James Roby and Ade Gardner, for a game that is being seen as a "dead rubber".

Barring an unlikely victory by Papua New Guinea over Australia in Townsville on Sunday, England and the Kiwis will meet again a week later in the first semi-final in Brisbane.

With that crunch clash in mind, Smith has taken the opportunity to rotate his squad, with Mickey Higham, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Jamie Langley, Rob Purdham, Paul Sykes and Ben Westwood all hoping for a first World Cup appearance after being named in a 19-strong squad.

As the only other specialist hooker in England's 24-man party, Higham is certain to take the place of Roby, who has been one of the shining lights of England's first two matches, while winger Lee Smith returns from a foot injury to take over from Gardner.

With prop Maurie Fa'asavalu nursing a hand injury, captain Jamie Peacock and Adrian Morley will shoulder the bulk of the front-row work, with Jones-Buchanan favourite to move up from the second row when required.

England's only other injury absentee is back rower Jon Wilkin, who has facial bruising but is expected to be available for the semi-final.

Prop Evarn Tuimavave will make his debut for New Zealand in place of the rested captain Nathan Cayless while Leuluai will continue at scrum half despite some calls in the Australian media to move him to hooker.

The side will be led by Melbourne back rower Jeremy Smith, who captained the side against Tonga in Auckland last month.

The other change in the starting pack sees David Fa'alogo promoted from the bench in place of second rower Setaimata Sa, with veteran David Kidwell coming on to the bench.

There are two changes in the backline, where winger Jason Nightingale replaces Sam Perrett while Steve Matai returns from suspension at centre for Krisnan Inu.

Wests Tigers forward Bronson Harrison will play his first Test in three years, replacing Sam Rapira on the bench.

England's 19-man squad (in alphabetical order): R Burrow (Leeds), M Calderwood (Wigan), G Ellis (Leeds), M Gleeson (Warrington), M Higham (Wigan), G Hock (Wigan), J Jones-Buchanan (Leeds), J Langley (Bradford), D McGuire (Leeds), A Morley (Warrington), J Peacock (Leeds, capt), L Pryce (St Helens), R Purdham (Harlequins), K Senior (Leeds), K Sinfield (Leeds), L Smith (Leeds), P Sykes (Bradford), P Wellens (St Helens), B Westwood (Warrington).

New Zealand: L Hohaia; J Nightingale (St George Illawarra), S Matai (Manly), J Ropati, M Vatuvei; B Marshall (Wests Tigers), T Leuluai (Wigan); A Blair (Melbourne), N Fien, E Tuimavave, S Mannering, D Fa'alogo (South Sydney), J Smith (Melbourne, capt).
Subs: I Luke (South Sydney), G Eastwood (Brisbane), B Harrison (Wests Tigers), D Kidwell (South Sydney).

http://www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=4318

[wall_of_voodoo]

England will go into Saturday's final World Cup pool match against New Zealand with just two specialist props.

Coach Tony Smith has decided to rest Man of Steel James Graham, along with his St Helens team-mates James Roby and Ade Gardner, for a game that is being seen as a "dead rubber".

I would have thought it ws important to beat NZ prior to the semi. To get some form, continuity etc

Unless the interpretation of "dead rubber" means dead weights - and these are the ones dropped (especially mr gardener)

[josie andrews]

Pryce to miss Kiwi clash

Leon Pryce is likely to be rested for England's next game against New Zealand after picking up a rib injury.
England are set to include six new faces in their team to face New Zealand on Saturday in their final group match which is a dress rehearsal for the World Cup semi-final a week later.

Although coach Tony Smith has yet to announce his line-up, he has made it clear he intends to use his full 24-man squad before the knockout stages.

Smith's twin aim is to keep some of his front-line players fresh for the last-four clash and give his fringe men the chance to press their claims for selection, especially after last Sunday's 52-4 mauling by Australia.

http://www.sthelensreporter.co.uk/st-he ... 4672314.jp

Pathetic wimp