Rugby League: Rain hampers Kiwi showing

By PETER JESSUP

Plenty of foul play had been predicted in the Kiwis-France clash at Ericsson Stadium yesterday, but there was no niggle as the Kiwis ground out a 36-0 win in dirty weather.

With the lights on and a cold south-easterly driving rain down, conditions were more like north of England than south of France as the Kiwis went about a tradesmanlike win marred by errors, wrong options and pushed passes.

The Kiwis weathered a French storm in the first quarter, when the visitors had all the ball and all the territory.

It was the 20th minute before New Zealand scored, when the French conceded a penalty near their line and halfback Stacey Jones put Willie Talau over.

The French defence muscled up throughout the game, and they were good in structure and defence, particularly in the middle, but Stephen Kearney was next to score, after 27 minutes, when quick hands spread the ball right then left.

The Kiwi defence tightened after allowing some early breaks and the lack of forward roll told for the French, who had lost first-choice Jean-Christophe Borlin to a neck injury he received against Central Districts, and Frederic Teixido, who suffered an ankle injury the day before the test.

A great kicking game from fullback Frederic Banquet kept them in it, but the Kiwis scored again through Tasesa Lavea, when Richard Swain forced a turnover in the tackle.

Ali Lauiti'iti offloaded under pressure, and then Monty Betham went over, when the Kiwis caught Banquet before he could kick on the sixth and Jones put through an early grubber.

It was 20-0 at the break, with the Kiwis having bombed at least three scoring chances.

They could feel they were the better side, but were too eager to score from out wide rather than working for position.

When the French failed to take the sixth-tackle kick from the Kiwis' first second-half set, Jones recovered the ball and passed inside to Motu Tony, who showed his stunning step and jink in traffic to go in under the bar.

But it was the 66th minute before they got over again, when Jones scored from Richard Swain's inside pass when the hooker ran from dummy-half.

Talau had his second as the hooter went to close the game.

The Kiwis enjoyed a 6-3 penalty count, a 279-312 tackle imbalance.

In the unusually high error rate, the Kiwis were winners 14-12.

The home side completed 25 of 42 sets, the visitors 20 of 40.

The eight new Kiwis did nothing to damage their chances of selection, but could have done more to enhance them.

New Zealand's best were old hands Kearney and Jones, who led with enthusiasm.

For the French, former Mt Albert player Vincent Wulf had 39 tackles from hooker, and second-rower Gael Tallec made 38.

Banquet was their man of the match with his kicking game.

New Kiwi captain Nathan Cayless rated the intensity as of test standard, and as good as any NRL game.

Coach Gary Freeman said the team stuck to his game plan.

"What was worked on [in training through the week] was fixed up." He was happy with newcomers Clinton Toopi, Jerry SeuSeu, Henry Fa'afili, Francis Meli, Monty Betham and Motu Tony - the last two scoring tries.

He said he would name his side to play Australia after round 18 of the NRL on July 9.

He had been talking to the England-based players and would watch their progress on videotape.

He left the impression he thought the game was softer game there and that they would struggle.

However, the Kiwis will struggle against Australia if they manage only the 59 per cent ball control they had yesterday.