League: Kiwis lie back and think of England

Brian McClennan has quickly become accustomed to the cloak and dagger world of international rugby league.

One moment the rookie coach might be playing tit-for-tat games with Great Britain coach Brian Noble about releasing his run-on side, or slating the Australian administration for their arrogant hold over the game, and the next he's all sweetness and light espousing that Great Britain "aren't as lost as everyone is making them out to be".

It's an approach that comes from having his own ship in order and, reading between the lines, he's clearly delighted both Australia and Great Britain are under pressure.

Although the barbs continued to fly this week, mainly between Noble and Australian counterpart Wayne Bennett over referees, rucks and revenge, McClennan was having nothing to do with it.

Asked if he felt they already had one foot in the door of the final, he replied forthrightly: "We're not talking about the final. We're not that stupid to get caught talking about that. We don't want to put the cart before the horse."

Although he might not talk about it, he will have almost certainly thought about the prospect of preparing his side to run out at Leeds for the Tri-Nations final on November 26. The smart money is on Australia joining the Kiwis there - and they were expected to take another step towards that when they met Great Britain this morning - which would be a nightmare for promoters in the UK, who virtually assumed their own side would once again meet the Kangaroos.

"That doesn't concern us," was McClennan's response. Fair enough.

After three hectic weeks the Kiwis can afford to take something of a backward step this weekend when they line up against England in an unofficial test in the early hours of tomorrow morning (NZT).

McClennan is taking the chance to rest some of his front-line players, as well as himself, with assistant Graeme Norton taking the reins, but he's aware there's a fine line between maintaining momentum and taking the foot off the accelerator too much.

"We want to maintain continuity and confidence and keep doing really well," the coach said from the Kiwis' base in Manchester. "It's great to be able to give some guys who need a rest time off and it's a chance to build depth in all positions in case anything did go wrong with anyone."

Into the stands have gone the likes of Ruben Wiki and Nigel Vagana and in have come four UK-based Kiwis - Joe Vagana, Henry Fa'afili, Robbie Paul and Willie Poching.

While none are assured of receiving game time in the remaining Tri-Nations fixtures, the Kiwis have filled only 22 spots out of a possible 24 following the withdrawals of Lesley Vainikolo and Stacey Jones. Paul could feature given Jones' departure to meet up with his French club, Perpignan, and uncertainty over the fitness of utility Lance Hohaia.

"The new boys are excited about how we are going and that they have a chance to contribute to what's happening to them," McClennan added. "It's not a test match but we're taking it seriously."

Kiwis (from): L. Anderson, H. Fa'afili, D. Faiumu, S. Hape, B. Harrison, L. Hohaia, A. Lauitiiti, R. Paul, I. Paleaaesina, W. Poching, F. Pritchard, T. Puletua, M. Tony, J. Vagana, M. Vatuvei, J. Webster, P. Whatuira. England: R. Mathers, M. Calderwood, P. Sykes, B. Westwood, D. Hodgson, C. Thorman, L. Robinson, E. Crabtree, M. Alker, P. Wood, S. Wild, L. Radford, J. Wilkin.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY