League: Pressure on McClennan

Kiwis coach Brian McClennan has taken no risks with his selection for France. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Now we find out just how good a coach Brian McClennan is.

The Kiwis desperately need to regather momentum by scoring a convincing win over France in Perpignan this morning, regardless of the outcome of the Australia-Great Britain match tomorrow and whether they make the Tri-Nations final or not.

France fancy themselves as on the up after years in league's doldrums.

The entry of Stacey Jones' new club Les Catalans into Super League is one measure of that. So is the number of Kiwis and Australians playing there, as well as the fact the French have hired John Monie, the former Warriors, Parramatta and Wigan coach, as mentor for these games against the Kiwis and Kangaroos.

Last year, the French were leading against New Zealand at Carcassonne until the 77th minute, when Ali Lauitiiti stepped his way to a try. The humbled Kiwis went back to England and were bundled out of the Tri-Nations 26-24 by the Lions.

This year, the Kiwis sweat on a game between the Kangaroos and Lions at Hull - they need the Lions to win by two or less, or nine or more, or Australia to beat Great Britain, which seems more likely.

McClennan has taken no risks in his selection against France, stiffening the pack with veterans Ruben Wiki and David Kidwell while also introducing the highly rated youngster Bronson Harrison. Eleven of the team are backing up from the humiliating loss to the Lions.

Australia whupped France 44-12 last weekend and the Kiwis need to be looking for comparable scoreline.

McClennan was maybe too kind to the Kiwis in allowing a four-day holiday in Italy for senior team members after their first-up thrashing of the Brits. Maybe focus went off, and a big points margin held over Great Britain settled them into a comfort zone that then set them up for a fall against a vastly improved Lions side last weekend.

The big test for the 43-year-old coach is to reignite the spark of desire, the hunger to win and the fear of losing. Because even if they comprehensively beat France, if they do not make the Tri-nations final and have to return home early it will be with tails between their legs, unsure, uncertain of their ability to match it with the big boys.

The Australian Rugby League has told its team that should they be knocked out, the league will not pay for them to stay on in England.

There remains the Stacey Jones situation. His fluttering in and out of the squad carries with it a lack of consistency and cohesion. Would they have been better off playing another halves combination against the Lions instead of injecting Jones when he became available on the Thursday before a Saturday game? Would that not have prepared them better for a possible final, where it seems Jones will not be available?

His wife Rachelle is due to give birth in Auckland on November 24 - the halfback is flying out of France to Auckland tomorrow. If he did make himself available for the final, which has so far been ruled out, he would have to fly around the world and back in a matter of days.

The Lions are depleted by the loss of fullback Paul Wellens, who left the game against the Kiwis last weekend with a knee problem, and halfback Paul Deacon, whose face was smashed by Nigel Vagana's hit.

Lions coach Brian Noble is expected to shift wing Leon Pryce to fullback and use Richard Horne at halfback.

Kangaroos coach Wayne Bennett yesterday dropped Warriors captain Steve Price from his 19-man squad and said either Craig Wing or Scott Prince would be the other man to fall out. Price had come into the squad short of match fitness because the Warriors were not in the NRL finals, Bennett said, and though he had improved, Dragons prop Jason Ryles was ahead of him

* New Zealand v France, Toulouse, 7.25am today
* Great Britain v Australia, Hull KC Stadium, 7.10am tomorrow