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Newcomer Lee Smith set to revel in his debut
TONY SMITH yesterday voiced his confidence that Lee Smith will thrive under pressure when the Leeds Rhinos winger makes his England debut against Papua New Guinea tomorrow.
Click here for John Ledger's breakfast briefing from the Rugby League World Cup.
Click here to read John Ledger's hilarious World Cup blog.
The 22-year-old is the only uncapped player for a match which kicks off the Rugby League World Cup, but Smith, who worked with the player for four years before leaving Leeds at the end of last season to take charge of the national side in a full-time capacity, has no doubts his namesake will rise to the occasion.
"He knows it is a great honour and I'm sure he's going to treasure the moment," said Smith. "He was very good at the back end of this year and deserves his place. He's going to do a great job."
Smith's ability was showcased when he delivered a flawless performance at full-back in the Super League grand final three weeks ago. He will partner his club colleague and World Cup room-mate Keith Senior in a squad which features five other Leeds players and six from St Helens, including Super League Man of Steel James Graham.
The 23-year-old is preferred in the starting line to the vastly experienced Adrian Morley, who has to settle for a place on the bench, a situation which may change come kick-off tomorrow night.
"James has been in sensational form and Adrian hasn't played for a while so we will introduce him later in the game," explained Smith, who said Morley had made a full recovery from the stomach muscle injury that forced him to miss England's win against Wales.
"That's the thinking for now, at least. We have a couple of days to go and if we feel he could start we may change that."
There were few other surprises in Smith's selection with the team that kick off England's bid for World Cup glory the strongest possible, with the notable exception of the injured Sam Burgess.
As predicted in yesterday's Yorkshire Post Smith has drafted in Wigan's volatile second row Gareth Hock for a starting spot while Danny McGuire is the only back on a bench which also features St Helens forwards Jon Wilkin and Maurie Fa'asavalu.
England: P Wellens (St Helens); A Gardner (St Helens), M Gleeson (Warrington), K Senior (Leeds), L Smith (Leeds); L Pryce (St Helens), R Burrow (Leeds); J Peacock (Leeds, capt), J Roby (St Helens), J Graham (St Helens), G Hock (Wigan), G Ellis (Leeds), K Sinfield (Leeds). Substitutes: D McGuire (Leeds), M Fa'asavalu (St Helens), A Morley (Warrington), J Wilkin (St Helens).
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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