Mind games start after England team “announcement”

Mystery surrounds the make-up of the England World Cup semi-final team despite coach Tony Smith naming a 19-strong squad today.

One of the players New Zealand fears most, Leeds half Danny McGuire plus form winger Ade Gardner, were surprisingly omitted from the squad while major injury concern Paul Wellens was named for Saturday night’s clash with the Kiwis at Brisbane.

However, an England spokesman tonight said the team were addressing “one or two issues” and did not rule out players not included in the squad running out against New Zealand.

Asked what issues were being addressed, he said: “That’s all I can really say at this point in time.”

England’s cloak and dagger approach appears to be a direct response to New Zealand not naming their team as scheduled today.

Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney today refused to reveal anything about his team except to rule out injured centre Steve Matai (shoulder) as expected.

“I can tell you who our five-eighth is,” Kearney quipped, referring to last weekend’s stand-in skipper Benji Marshall.

A World Cup spokesperson confirmed England were allowed to bring in a player outside the squad.

McGuire was tipped to replace underperforming pivot Leon Pryce in the must-win game but was overlooked altogether.

And just days after putting his hand up to mark New Zealand’s four-try hero Manu Vatuvei, St Helens winger Gardner was also ignored.

But fullback Wellens (ankle) was named today while Pryce, form prop James Graham and dangerman James Roby all returned after being rested for England’s 36-24 weekend pool loss to New Zealand at Newcastle.

McGuire was also rested in the Kiwis’ come-from-behind pool victory but was tipped by former Great Britain coach Brian Noble to threaten the disappointing Pryce for the five-eighth nod.

“There is still a conundrum over who will play (at five-eighth) with both Danny McGuire and Leon Pryce sitting out the defeat to New Zealand.

“The kicking strategy will be vital (against New Zealand) but I’m reminded of Leeds’ (Super League) grand final win when Kevin Sinfield, (Rob) Burrow and McGuire all kicked really well and that helped them to defeat a fancied St Helens team (featuring Pryce).”

But the jury is out on whether Smith does play McGuire after the England spokesman’s curious statement.

New Zealand football manager and former Kiwi skipper Dean Bell today nominated McGuire as one of the players his team feared most.

“Rob Burrow is a dangerous individual so is McGuire given space to move,” he said.

Despite establishing himself as one of English Super League’s superstars, Pryce has failed to produce Down Under.

Indeed the biggest impact Pryce made in Australia was the furore over his 2006 Tri Nations website blog in which he whinged about all things Australian and said he he preferred Blackpool to Bondi.

Gardner is also a big name omission after making some big calls this week.

The 2008 Super League leading tryscorer said he looked forward to taking on Vatuvei, even though he would be giving away almost 20kg to the powerful Kiwi.

Instead, he will be watching from the grandstand - if Smith remains faithful to his squad.

Lee Smith and Mark Calderwood have been named as England wingers.

Whatever team Smith decides on, Kearney expects a much-improved effort from the underperforming English.

They have only managed an unconvincing win over PNG before being crushed by Australia and letting a 16-point lead slip against the Kiwis.

“They are bringing in a couple of key players who really change the outlook of their side,” Kearney said.

“James Graham - he got the Man of Steel (English Player of the Year Award) over there, James Roby is a wonderful player and Pryce makes a difference.

“What we achieved (last weekend) will be doubly hard this week.”

The England squad:
Paul Wellens, Mark Calderwood, Martin Gleeson, Keith Senior, Lee Smith, Leon Pryce, Rob Burrow, Adrian Morley, Mickey Higham, Jamie Peacock (capt, Gareth Ellis, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Rob Purdham. Interchange: James Graham, Ben Westwood, James Roby, Kevin Sinfield, Jon Wilkin, Gareth Hock.

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