Rugby League: Thank you and goodnight

By Peter Jessup

Great Britain go into tonight's test against New Zealand on the back of the worst possible preparation - only the Kiwis can beat the Kiwis tonight.

The biggest danger for the home side is that they can lose by 19 and still make next Friday's tri-series final on points differential.

Certainly there was an element of looking at the scoreboard rather than looking to keep the foot on the opposition's throat in the second half against Australia a fortnight ago.

The Kiwis have a big, fast and experienced forward pack that has been together for several tests and happily encamped in Auckland for three weeks.

Great Britain start with two props, carry the psychological baggage of the 6-42 hiding copped from an Australian team beaten by the Kiwis, and arrived late on Wednesday.

The side trained hard on Monday and Tuesday and enjoyed the rest a day's travel from the Gold Coast to Auckland gave them, said captain Andy Farrell. They'd been right in the game with Australia at 10-6 in the third quarter, hit a wall at the 63rd minute and let in an embarrassing scoreline. They'd learnt from their mistakes and wanted to erase the bad memories with a victory here.

Sorry mate, book your ticket home.

Lions coach Andy Goodway has commented that the Kiwis were probably more concerned at the loss of Stacey Jones than his side were. "We've still got to compete against the best in the world," he said.

One of the most interesting aspects of this match is how the Paul brothers' halfback-standoff combination works, together for the first time in a test.

Certainly Great Britain have great skills and ability. Farrell is a talented, hard-nosed captain; there is great forward ball-playing skill via Denis Betts and Adrian Morley; out back is brilliant young playmaker Iestyn Harris; outside him one of the world's best centres in Gary Connolly, and elusive speed in Jason Robinson and Kris Radlinski.

But they have only one option that gives them a show tonight. They can't go up the middle - Steve Kearney, Joe Vagana, Jason Lowrie, Craig Smith, Richard Swain, Logan Swann won't let them. They won't get round the rucks through the Paul brothers.

Their chances lie out wide, via speed-feeds along the line and the miracle passes they throw.

The Lions looked most likely against Australia when they were forcing passes of the type that would have an NRL coach in a choking fit, running weird lateral lines, with broken play returns via Robinson.

But they couldn't repeatedly break the NRL-built defence. It will be the same tonight. And after 60 minutes of throwing themselves under the wheels of the Kiwi steamroller, expect the juice to run out just like it did in Brisbane.