Tonight sees the England team getting their first hit out before departing for the World Cup in Australia. They play Wales at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster. For many it will be their only chance to play for England. The 15 players from Leeds and St Helens who will be going to Australia are rested tonight, and only 24 players will be on the plane. Tony Smith, the England coach, insists that every player needs to play at the top of their game in case there are casualties from the original squad, and others need to be drafted in.
There are three players from Harlequins in Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Rob Purdham and Tony Clubb, though only Purdham has made the final cut at present. The 18 year old Salford half back Richie Myler is also selected. Stuart Fielden has surprisingly missed out on the trip to Australia but is selected tonight, and must be hoping for a big game which alter change Tony Smith’s decision to leave him out. Mark Calderwood is selected on the wing, having been picked for England after initially opting for the Scotland squad. For those who are definitely going to Australia, it is an important chance to play a competitive game after several weeks without match practice.
Although only a warm up game, it it Wales’s only match after failing to qualify for the World Cup, and they will be wanting to make up for that failure by playing well tonight. Smith will be hoping that all his players will come through unscathed, but will also want to see a hard-fought game with the players treating it as seriously as if it was the World Cup final.
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