GB v NZ

[Graham Las Darrington]

I'd was fancying GB's chances and then this:
BBC Web Site:

Great Britain skipper Andy Farrell is among three or four players who could miss Saturday's Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand because of illness.

He has the same virus that robbed the team of Sean O'Loughlin and Paul Johnson for the game against Australia.

Oh dear oh dear oh dear!
Get well soon, Andy...very soon: your country needs you!

[Graham Las Darrington]

Farrell played and gave his all, but didn't look at his best.
GB put in a very strong second half performance wresting the initiative away from NZ who'd had the best of the first half.
This was a very promising display by GB who are showing there's talent about and a good support staff. Brian Noble is doing a great job.
So its on to next weekend's match versus Australia now. Great stuff!
Decent performance
Storm (and ex Warrington) David Kidwell played well, but why wasn't Alex Chan selected?
Missing and needed
Final score: GB 22 - 12 NZ

[TC]

A real game of 2 halves.

I'm really looking forward to the next match (I even think that Black The Ref will be much better for having had a run at this level - gods, I hope so....)

[Graham Las Darrington]

NZ play France on Thursday.
I read today that Alex Chan gets his first run out for the team.

[Super Cronk]

go chan.....

[Fampa]

NZ play France on Thursday.

That was close. I would have been a distaster for NZ if they had lost to France. Makes me look forward to the game against them in a few weeks, just to see how much they have improved.

[Graham Las Darrington]

GB v NZ this Saturday, 20/11/04

Great Britain squad: P Wellens, B Carney, S Reardon, P Johnson, M Gleeson, K Senior, C Walker, D McGuire, S Long, I Harris, M Higham, M Diskin, A Farrell (capt), A Morley, S Fielden, D Ward, G Ellis, S Wild, S O'Loughlin
Leeds hooker Matt Diskin will make his Great Britain debut

New Zealand: Brent Webb, Francis Meli, Nigel Vagana, Clinton Toopi, Shontayne Hape, Vinnie Anderson, Thomas Leuluai, Jason Cayless, Dene Halatau, Paul Rauhihi, Logan Swann, Ali Lauitiiti, Louis Anderson
Replacements: Robbie Paul, Roy Asotasi, Nathan Cayless, Wairangi Koopu

New Zealand will be without captain Ruben Wiki for the match.
Wiki suffered a facial fracture in the Kiwis' 24-20 win over France, and will be replaced at prop and as captain by Paul Rauhihi.

Coach Daniel Anderson also brings Leeds second-rower Ali Lauitiiti into the starting line-up.

Sonny Bill Williams' shoulder injury keeps him out of action with Louis Anderson coming in at loose forward.

[Surandy]

No David Kidwell?!? Any idea why?

[Graham Las Darrington]

I can't find any reference to David K and team selection. Unless he's got an injury I guess he's not a first choice player in the selectors' minds.
I spotted that Alex Chan has been named as 18th Man! Funny thing selection though...I've been a great fan of Robbie Paul for years. He's a great bloke and has been world class a long time, certainly NZ and Bradford owe him a lot. He's just not on form at the moment and doesn't merit his place on the bench. You watch after me saying that he'll probably come on and weave some magic. Doh!