Kangaroo spots up for grabs - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Kangaroo spots up for grabs

By Brent Read 18/11/2004 08:06:35 PM Comments (0)

Australian coach Wayne Bennett has given the team to play France on Sunday plenty of motivation by declaring six spots are up for grabs in the Kangaroos side for the Tri-Nations final.

Bennett named his side for the game against France, recalling captain Darren Lockyer (rib) and prop Jason Ryles (hamstring) alongside Matt Bowen and Matt Cooper, who will make their Test debuts at Stade Minimes.

An expansive Bennett also took aim at the system that resulted in Mark O'Meley being charged with misconduct after the weekend loss to Great Britain and revealed officials tried to delay the hearing until next week.

O'Meley was named in the Kangaroos side to play France but his spot hinges on the outcome of his meeting with an international disciplinary panel, which he is expected to face by video link from Toulouse.

The Bulldogs prop is one of the players fighting for a spot in the Australian side for the Tri-Nations final, to be played against Great Britain at Elland Road on November 27.

"There's about half a dozen," Bennett said when asked how many places were up for grabs in the Australian side for the Tri-Nations final.

"There's six players on this tour that haven't played anywhere near what they're capable of playing.

"Match fitness has been really short all the way through here. The point is their match fitness has been a real key for them (Great Britain) and being able to maintain it.

"We came out of our finals series with guys who hadn't played for four weeks and some of them weren't in great form at the time either.

"It's made it difficult. There's been no midweek games to say to the guys here's your opportunity."

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news