on their game this time. I’m sure they won’t be taking us lightly.”
NEWS & SPORT
PROVING IT WAS NO FLUKE Marshall claims the Kiwis are desperate to prove their World Cup win was not an anomaly – and the only way to do that is by bloodying the Aussies’ noses again. “It’s all good winning once, but you don’t want to make it look like a fluke, so we’ve got to back that up,” Marshall says. “I’m sure we’ve got the talent to do it, it’s just making sure we prepare well and perform on the day.” After facing Australia, the Kiwis will cross the channel to play France in Toulouse, and then head north to Huddersfield to take on the Poms. And Marshall acknowledges his men will need to improve on their last meeting
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The Aussies “ won’t be taking us lightly this time ” with Australia, a 38-10 defeat to in this year’s Anzac Test in Brisbane. “We can use that loss as motivation. They’re obviously going to be favourites for that opening game, so we need to make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again,” Marshall says. “Everyone pretty much knows everyone in the team, and when you come back together with so many good players everyone knows their role, so you don’t really need that long to get everything back clicking.”
MARSHALLING THE TROOPS As New Zealand’s key playmaker, Marshall has often been relied upon to spark the side. Arguably, there is an unhealthy dependence on Marshall, who now bears the added burden of captaincy. Despite the pressure, the 24-yearold remains unfazed. “You’ve just got to show the way and hope everyone follows,” Marshall insists. “That’s my job in the halves anyway. I direct everyone, I do most of the talking – so as long as I lead
Benji Marshall: itching to beat Australia
by example there’s nothing to worry about.” While Marshall will weave his magic in the backline, he’ll be counting on the returning Frank Pritchard to ignite the Kiwis’ big men. “It’s the first time we’ll have Frankie back in the team since he missed the World Cup, and he’s a wrecking ball in the second row, so hopefully he can lead us in the forwards.”
LONDON, HERE I COME Surprisingly, Marshall has never played in this part of the world. The Wests Tigers star’s career has been blighted by injury, and during most post-season tours he’s been at home watching his teammates from New Zealand. “It’s been disappointing the last few years not being able to go on the tours,” he says. “To finally play in the UK and see a part of the world I’ve always wanted to visit is an added bonus.”
» Twickenham Stoop Stadium, TW2 7SX Twickenham (therfl.co.uk). Oct 24. £20-£40
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IMMORTALITY BECKONS The Brisbane Broncos’ five-eighth Darren Lockyer will captain Australia during the tournament, and is set to break a string of national records. Lockyer, 32, captained Australia in the TransTasman Test win at Suncorp Stadium on May 8, when he equalled fellow Queenslander Mal Meninga’s record of
most Test appearances (46). Lockyer is two Tests short of equalling Clive Churchill’s record for most games as captain (27), and one try short of Ken Irvine’s record of most tries (33). It will be fitting if Lockyer breaks all of those records over the next month, to confirm his standing as one of the code’s all-time greats.
ON THE BOX FRIDAY 8pm Sky Sports 2 ENGLAND V FRANCE
SATURDAY 8pm Sky Sports 2 NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA
WILL FRANCE BE REMOTELY COMPETITIVE? In a bid to expand the appeal of rugby league, France have joined the traditional participants, with a Pacific qualifier to take part instead next year. France are ranked fifth in the world but were poor at last year’s World Cup, finishing behind Fiji and Scotland in their group. Their squad draws heavily from the Catalans Dragons, who play in the Super League, and while they might lift in front of a home crowd, it’s hard to see them containing the Aussie and Kiwi stars. France’s greatest rugby league player was fullback Puig Aubert, who played during the ’40s and ’50s. He was nicknamed Pipette because of a heavy smoking habit that saw him lighting up on the field.
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