League: Hape gets nod for vacant wing spot

7.30am - By ROBERT LOWE

LEEDS - Bradford back Shontayne Hape will make his New Zealand rugby league test debut when he runs on against Great Britain at Huddersfield on Saturday.

The former New Zealand Warrior was today named in the wing spot vacated by clubmate Lesley Vainikolo, who was recalled by the Bulls after the Kiwis' last tri-nations test for off-season surgery.

Hape, 22, has been playing at centre in the English Super League, where he has formed a lethal partnership with Vainikolo.

This season, the pair scored 67 tries between them for Bradford, with Vainikolo getting a Super League record 39.

They missed the drawn opening tri-nations test against Australia in Auckland last month, as it clashed with the Super League grand final, while Hape also sat out the loss to the Kangaroos in London a week later.

However, he performed well in the Anzacs' 64-12 win over Cumbria last week, scoring two of the visitors' 10 tries.

There are two other changes in personnel in the New Zealand starting 13 to face the Lions at Galpharm Stadium.

Clinton Toopi comes in at centre for Paul Whatuira, who drops out of the 17, while David Kidwell gets a place in the second row in a reshuffled pack, with Nathan Cayless moving to the bench.

In a positional switch, skipper Ruben Wiki moves from the second row to take Cayless' berth at prop.

Ali Lauitiiti, who joined the Kiwi camp this week, has been included among the substitutes in place of Roy Asotasi, who appeared in both tests against Australia, but has been troubled by an ankle injury.

Coach Daniel Anderson said picking the squad hadn't been easy because so many players had put their hands up.

He added that the Lions presented a different challenge to the Kangaroos.

"We've got a healthy squad in general and a very motivated one," Anderson said.

"We're playing different opposition this time and there are different nuances about Great Britain. We're trying to pick players as well that might be better suited to playing Great Britain."

Anderson said Hape had impressed on the wing against Cumbria and had earned his spot through form and training.

He said Toopi had come back from thumb surgery at the conclusion of the Warriors' National Rugby League season and his work at training had been "exceptional".

The hope was that Toopi and Lauitiiti would be able to recreate their affinity down the left-hand side of the field.

Anderson said Asotasi could have played, but felt it was better to rest him.

He would be selected for the one-off test against France next Thursday, when he could challenge for a place in the Kiwis' last tri-nations round-robin match against Great Britain on November 20.

Anderson said the bench of Robbie Paul, Cayless, Paul Rauhihi and Lauitiiti boosted the experience of the squad, which included youngsters like Hape, Sonny Bill Williams, Thomas Leuluai and Louis Anderson.

"It gives us that extra seniority when Ruben goes off for a spell."

Great Britain coach Brian Noble said there were no real surprises in the Kiwi side.

Noble, who is also coach of Bradford, believed Hape was the best option on the wing, ahead of Henry Fa'afili and the uncapped Jamaal Lolesi.

"I'm pleased for Shontayne Hape because he was outstanding towards the back of the season," he said.

"They've bought Toopi back on that left side. They've got some big guns out there, some big game players with a lot of ability. It's an exciting side that they've picked."

- NZPA