Rugby League: Injury crisis angers Reilly

AMID the disarray that was to be expected, Great Britain yesterday cobbled together a squad to play France in Carcassonne on Sunday that shows seven changes from the original selection. The coach, Malcolm Reilly, is upset enough to suggest he might resign if his preparations are disrupted like this again.

The withdrawals fall into two categories: those players who would have been out in any event and those who were injured or who aggravated injuries on Wednesday night, following the League's controversial decision to lift its usual ban on Test representatives playing for their clubs in midweek.

In the first bracket are Paul Newlove, with a groin injury, Andy Platt, who has knee problems, and Denis Betts, who is staying at home for domestic reasons. Wednesday night's damage amounts to Sonny Nickle's shoulder, knee injuries to Kelvin Skerrett and Martin Dermott following Wigan's game at Leeds and Martin Offiah suffering a recurrence of his ankle strain.

As a result there are late call-ups for John Devereux and Alan Hunte on the wings, Chris Joynt on the bench, and Daryl Powell as travelling reserve. The consequence is a front row of uncapped players, including two - Neil Cowie and Steve McCurrie - who are not regular first-choices for their clubs.

There is something to be said for blooding newcomers in a game like this, but little to recommend calling them up on a Thursday morning. It was understandable that a believer in the importance of preparation like Reilly was furious enough to hint at resignation.

'If they want to play midweek games before internationals, count me out,' he said of the League's decision over Wednesday's matches. 'It's a diabolical situation and I certainly don't want to be involved in it again. If it had been Australia or New Zealand, we might as well have given them the match. This is the worst-prepared squad I have been involved in.'

There is more evidence of the League's confused thinking in the news that member clubs will discuss and vote on a return to two divisions next Wednesday, a few weeks after a similar plan was rejected. The plan proposed by the game's board of directors is for two divisions of 16, with the bottom three in the Third Division being 'invited' to join the Second Division of the Alliance League for reserve sides.

Widnes and Leeds will meet in the first semi-final of the Challenge Cup at Wigan on 13 March. Wigan and Bradford Northern will play at Elland Road two weeks later.

GREAT BRITAIN (v France, Carcassonne, Sunday): S Spruce (Widnes); J Devereux (Widnes), A Currier (Widnes), G Connolly (St Helens), A Hunte (St Helens); G Schofield (Leeds, capt), S Edwards (Wigan); N Cowie (Wigan), S McCurrie (Widnes), S Molloy (Leeds), R Eyres (Widnes), P Clarke (Wigan), E Hanley (Leeds). Substitutes: M Ford (Castleford), C Joynt (St Helens), A Bateman (Warrington), S McNamara (Hull). Travelling reserves: D Lyon (St Helens), D Powell (Sheffield Eagles).