Kiwis keen to make amends

Press, 21 October 1989, Page 96

Kiwis keen to make amends

From

KEVIN NORQUAY

in Manchester

The attitude of the Kiwi captain, Hugh McGahan, towards tomorrow’s first rugby league test against Britain has switched from dread to keen anticipation in less than a fortnight.

McGahan and his men were criticised by the British press as the worst Kiwi team to tour Britain after they bumbled their way to a 24-14 loss to Wigan 12 days ago. For all his public bravery McGahan himself was wondering which way to look. “After the Wigan game I felt let down,” McGahan said. “I felt ‘what am I doing here?’ ” All that has changed. A 34-4 win over Leeds last week-end was a big confidence booster. The Kiwi practice yesterday morning carried a keen edge. It was test match time aggain. They had an appointment at Old Trafford in Manchester. Players were sharp and alert. The medical staff watched their footballers like hawks, quick to provide strapping or a rub to get the team back to full strength. It was serious business. It was business conducted at speed with few mistakes. The post practice McGahan was much happier than he had been when he slumped down in the changing rooms after playing Wigan. Drafted professionals, Kurt Sorenson, and Dean Bell, had quickly adapted to the Kiwi pattern. There had been zip and understanding. "We’ve still got a little to do, there were a couple of dropped ball but it was a really good training,” McGahan said. “You can feel the tension starting to build. It’s a different type of buildup now. A test is a different sort of game. “It’s nerves, anticipation. The better the training goes the more the anticipation builds.”

There may be anticipation in the Kiwi camp but McGahan was hardly confident he would be at the helm of an upset. He went only as far as defending the Kiwis from the slings and arrows of the British press. “I thought it might have been a little premature of them to write us off like they did after we played Wigan. It’s just that the players in this team are not so mature as players have been in past Kiwi sides. “They got the skills. They’re just green around the edges still. I’m not confident about winning the test match. I’m confident we can still get better and improve,” he said. No-one could be confident about beating Britain. It outweighs the Kiwis in the forwards. It is faster and more skilful in the backs. The No. 1 Kiwi weapon will be their dogged persistence, a quality which was not enough to beat Australia in any of the three tests played in New Zealand last winter. With players of the ilk of the halfback, Andy Gregory, the centre, Andy Currier, the fullback, Alan Tait, and the flying wing, Martin Offiah, the Kiwis must tackle everything that moves. They will not even be able to save themselves a little when Britain are pinned deep in its own half. Much of the Kiwi practice yesterday revolved around defence. The particular area which caused the most yelling and pointing was the ruck area round the play the ball. Whereas Australia used its

power to bash through the Kiwis, the British are likely to be more subtle. They have several clever forwards capable of putting players into gaps with short passes. McGahan said the Kiwis have planned for that. They have not planned for the try-scoring machine, Offiah, the fastest man in international league. McGahan said there was no way to plan for Offiah. He should know after playing alongside Offiah this season for Eastern Suburbs in Sydney. “He’s at his most dangerous when he’s supporting a break,” he said. “He can come from 30m behind someone and get in support of them. We haven’t got any specific plans for him.” Though New Zealand has the advantage of coming into the test with combinations worked up in six tour games touring also means they come in with several niggling injuries. Of concern for any New Zealander watching training was the feeling that Kevin Iro had not fully recovered from a leg injury which he suffered against Bradford Northern last week. The teams.— New Zealand: Darrell Williams, Kevin Iro, Dean Bell, Kurt Sherlock, Gary Mercer, Kelly Shelford, Gary Freeman, James Goulding, Duane Mann, Brent Todd, Sam Stewart, Kurt Sorensen, Hugh McGahan (captain). Reserves: Tony Kemp, Phil Bancroft, Esene Faimalo or Mike Kuiti, Francis Leota. Britain: Alan Tait, Phil Ford, Andy Currier, Paul Oughlin, Martin Offiah, David Hulme, Andy Gregory, Mike Gregory (captain), Andy Platt, Andy Goodway, David Hobbs, Kevin Beardmore, Kelvin Skerrett. Reserves: Paul Newlove, Shaun Edwards, Roy Powell, Paul Hulme.