>I have been amused to read over the past few weeks the >rubbishing of the Great Britain League team, and couching >staff by their =
The New Zealand team is rather good, but I do dispute the
selection of Tyran Smith at lock. Heck, he struggled to make
first grade every week with Souths. Grant Young, he's a
surprise packet. I also question the halves. While both Ngamu
and Jones are excellent players, if I was a selector I would
have put in the Paul brothers Henry and Robbie.
I'm glad Ruben Wiki got to start over Richie Blackmore and I'm
glad John Timu got a run. I would have picked John Kirwan over
Marc Ellis though, or even Daryl Halligan.
The Great Britain side was surprisingly weak. I know they were
without Newlove, Robinson, Connolly etc but they still had some
good talent. I'm glad they picked Kieron Cunningham, he is
definitely, behind Jim Serdaris, the form *** in the world
right now. I thought he had a good series. Broadbent played
well, but what happened to McDermott? The forwards were a
little weak. I would have selected Simon Haughton, he was
brilliant in the premiership final. IMO, Steve Prescott should
have got the nod over Spruce. Harris struggled and Karl Hammond
should have got a run, his combination with the brilliant
Goulding would have helped Great Britain better.
The most disappointing aspect of the whole series was the
appalling New Zealand television coverage. Greg Clark and Brent
Todd knew all the Kiwis, but they only knew Denis Betts
(because he plays for Auckland) and Bobbie Goulding, who they
kept calling James Goulding (former NZ international). This is
something Ray Warren or Eddie Hemmings wouldn't have done.
--
Tim Archer
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