Rugby League: Virus gives coach a headache

By CHRIS BARCLAY

Great Britain have been forced to delay naming their team for Sunday morning's do-or-die second test against the Kiwis after a virus swept through the squad, placing a couple of key players in doubt.

Abrasive second rower Adrian Morley, at the centre of an ugly confrontation with Kiwis prop Jerry Seuseu in the first test, and veteran fullback Gary Connolly were the worst affected and took only a limited part in training yesterday.

Great Britain assistant coach Brian Noble said the 18-man squad, scheduled to be named yesterday, is now expected to be released after training at the match venue, Huddersfield's McAlpine Stadium tonight.

"We've got to see what sort of reaction they have tomorrow," Noble said.

Doubts also continue to linger over the prospects of English player of the year Paul Sculthorpe fronting as he continues to recover from a ruptured quadricep.

Sculthorpe trained lightly yesterday but will need to survive a session today before his fitness is confirmed.

The St Helens star has been plagued by the injury for five weeks and aggravated it during Saints' grand final defeat of Bradford last month.

Coach David Waite admitted the return of the five-eighth/lock was crucial if Great Britain were to take the series to a decider at Wigan in 10 days' time.

"If we had him fit for the first test it could have made the difference between winning and losing," he said.

Although his lineup has not been announced, Waite has indicated 31-year-old Wigan prop Terry O'Connor will be introduced - possibly at the expense of Bradford's Paul Anderson - to add starch to an already aggressive pack.

The 14-test veteran for Great Britain, who also captained Ireland at the 2000 World Cup, has indicated this series will probably be his last as he wants to concentrate on seeing out his two-year contract at Wigan and spend more time with his young family.

O'Connor, who played in losing series to the Kiwis in 1996 and 1998, was a surprise omission from the first test side although he has been dogged by a variety of injuries this season.

He has struggled with an Achilles injury since July and also needs surgery on a finger he dislocated in Wigan's second Super League game back in March.

"I didn't think a couple of months ago I'd have made it with my injuries. But I've got in the squad and now I want to go out on a high," he said.

While O'Connor is a definite change, Waite would not confirm if Karl Pratt would be given a chance to atone for his Ewood Park nightmare, where four fumbled Kiwis' kicks to his left wing each led to second half tries for the tourists.

Great Britain team management rallied around Pratt after his debacle but Waite wavered yesterday when asked if Pratt would be given a reprieve.

"It's a question of whether to put him back on the horse after a fall. He's really keen to get back on the park, he doesn't want to hide."

Pratt and fellow wing Leon Pryce have been peppered by high balls in training, sure the Kiwis will repeat their bombing tactics at Huddersfield.

Meanwhile, the Kiwis had yesterday off and return to training today. David Solomona (chest) and Paul Rauhihi (thigh) are continuing to recover from injuries sustained in the 30-16 victory last weekend.

Coach Gary Freeman is expected to name his side after training tomorrow.

- NZPA