League: It's judgment day for young Kiwis

The moment of truth has arrived for the Kiwis in the Tri-Nations, earlier than desired but in circumstances running in their favour.

As the curtain strings twitch on the great Kiwi careers of Ruben Wiki and Stacey Jones, the latest crop of potential stars will have no better chance to deliver a powerful test message on home soil than against an under-prepared British side in Christchurch tonight.

Frank Pritchard and company need to draw all they can from the remaining test days of Wiki and Jones and the redoubtable Nigel Vagana.

There have been subtle hints from the Kiwi camp this week that the younger players are being urged to find the extra confidence that will enable them to deliver on their promise.

The newest broom is Jerome Ropati, starting at standoff for the first time, who has a licence from coach Brian McClennan to run the show.

The intention is that Vagana will be firmly planted at right centre, rather than carrying any playmaking role.

New Zealand, the champions, and Great Britain can still hold Tri-Nations hopes whatever the result at Jade Stadium tonight. But Australia are in the box seat, so a win is highly desirable for both.

The greater pressure is on the Kiwis, and the signs are in their favour.

The British arrived only two days ago; convention says they should have jetted from Sydney a day earlier to overcome the three-hour time difference.

Their key props, Stuart Fielden and Adrian Morley, have had scratchy lead-ups. Fielden's 40 minutes at Newcastle was his first hit-out since Wigan's season ended in mid-September. More significantly, Morley has been banned since late July.

While nine British starters were in the Super League finals, the team will be depending on the relentless Fielden and the volatile Morley to quell a Kiwi pack who troubled Australia.

Despite their regular camps, Great Britain will probably lack the cohesion the Kiwis have built.

The Kiwis do have new combinations - Vagana moving to right centre, Iosia Soliola switching to left, Tame Tupou returning to the right wing and Ropati being given the standoff job.

But McClennan, mindful that Ropati is the No 6 of the future, stationed Vagana on the right edge against Australia to prepare for this moment.

And Soliola may be more suited to the left side. The Roosters back can step both ways, but has a strong right fend and flips clever passes to his left.

There is also an element of mystery on the British bench. Coach Brian Noble - who under tournament rules had to name a side this week - is notorious for wanting to hide his selections, even up to match day.

He has named five bench prospects, including only one prop in newcomer Garreth Carvell, although captain Jamie Peacock can move into the role. This suggests the British want a mobile game.

As for the other mind game - the pre-test meetings with referee Paul Simpkins - nothing had been resolved yesterday.

Noble wanted to contact Simpkins, so McClennan demanded to be present.

The Kiwis made their position clear to referees boss Robert Finch and their own chairman Sel Bennett yesterday.

McClennan would much prefer that officials are not only left alone, but that the over-familiarity between referees and teams is cut back.

This would include referees refraining from calling players by name.

"We all know the referees - just let them get on with their job," he said.

"I believe they should call the players by their numbers."

The numbers Noble is concerned about are those involved in the ruck.

British hopes rest squarely on Fielden and Morley. If they can't at least dampen the Kiwi fire, Ruben Wiki's men could run riot.

The former star British second rower Denis Betts told the BBC: "It will all come down to the start - if Great Britain get a foothold early and avoid getting bashed about, they've got a chance."

Betts, with extensive club and test experience on both sides of the world, is probably on the mark.

Kiwis v Great Britain
Jade Stadium, 8pm today

New Zealand
Brent Webb, Tame Tupou, Nigel Vagana, Iosia Soliola, Manu Vatuvei, Jerome Ropati, Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki (c), Nathan Fien, Roy Asotasi, David Kidwell, Frank Pritchard, Simon Mannering
Interchange: Motu Tony, Nathan Cayless, Jason Cayless, David Fa'alogo, Adam Blair.

Great Britain
Paul Wellens, Brian Carney, Martin Gleeson, Keith Senior, Leon Pryce, Danny McGuire, Sean Long, Stuart Fielden, Terry Newton, Adrian Morley, Jamie Peacock (c), Gareth Ellis, Sean O'Loughlin, Kiwis: Motu Tony, Nathan Cayless, Jason Cayless, David Fa'alogo, Adam Blair.
Interchange: James Roby, Gareth Carvell, Gareth Hock, Lee Gilmour/Jon Wilkin.