Rugby League: Attacking Aussies look sharp

By Peter Jessup

The Australians will try to run the Kiwis off their feet in tonight's tri-series match, cutting angles in the centres and kicking to wings Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers.

The Kiwi plan will be to run over the Kangaroo forwards and keep going up the middle through the support play of the Paul brothers, Stacey Jones and Richard Swain.

At least that's the way it will go if the work by both camps in training this week is played out on the field tonight. It promises an intriguing encounter.

The Kangaroos have dangerous players in the pack in Bryan Fletcher and Nik Kosef.

Off the ruck they will have Brett Kimmorley running left or kicking right, Brad Fittler offering other bombing options and with a good grubber or chip over the top and Jason Smith hovering to feed off either.

Out wide Russell Richardson is one of, if not, the best centre in the game, Rogers has speed and vision and then there's the world's most powerful winger, Sailor. The Aussies will score - it's a matter of how much.

It won't be easy for the Kiwis to match the attack. It is critical they maintain their composure for the opening exchanges, no dropped balls and completed sets of six that take 70m or more. They need to make the Aussies tackle their big forwards at speed and repeatedly; to make the Aussies so tired they can't attack.

It is even more critical there are no holes on defence. Tackling wins matches and the Kiwis' work this week reflected that, hard-out sessions on the bags to toughen them.

The NZRL are hoping for a sell-out at Ericsson Stadium tonight. Only a few of the 19,000 seats were left yesterday afternoon. The Junior Kiwis kick off against the Junior 'Roos at 5.40 pm, the unusual start time is because they play 35-minute halves.

Pre-match entertainment includes a cultural display involving Cook Island and Samoan groups, an extra large Maori haka party, a piper's salute to Anzac troops in East Timor and the anthems - New Zealand's in English and Maori.

The TAB yesterday had the Kangaroos at $1.55 favourites with the Kiwis paying $2.30. Up to 4 pm yesterday the agency had 500 bets picking the Kiwis, 30 for the Kangaroos.

The NZRL yesterday confirmed a match for the Kiwis against Tonga in the off-week when Australia play Great Britain. With the Tongan Government's assistance, the proceeds from the match at Carlaw Park next Friday night (adults $5, children $1) will go to charities in the two countries - the Kids First project at Middlemore and the Viola Hospital in Tonga.