Anderson predicts Australia will rediscover form
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Your support makes all the difference.The Kangaroo tourists remain confident of retaining the Ashes this autumn, despite their unimpressive form on their travels so far.
Australia, last beaten here in a series in 1959, play their first tour game on English soil when they take on a youthful England A side at Brentford tonight.
With a number of their leading players missing, they have struggled in two countries so far, losing to New Zealand in Auckland and beating a French Selection in Carcassonne only by 34-10 on Saturday. Given that the French have been cannon-fodder for the Aussies in recent years and that many of their best players were in the Lebanon for the Mediterranean Cup, that was not a satisfactory scoreline. After the match, the French coach, Giles Dumas, predicted that Great Britain would win the series.
The Australia coach, Chris Anderson, admitted at their first training session in Britain that many are waiting for the Kangaroos to fail.
"This is a big challenge for us, but I think we're up to it," he said. "We've never had an easy Ashes series over here. I think this time they have a sniff of victory and that will make them more confident."
Anderson has named a side, captained by Darren Lockyer, which is close to his strongest for the match at the London Broncos' home ground. Big guns like Brett Kimmorley and Shane Ebcke are also back, while, significantly, Craig Gower gets a chance at stand-off. The tourists do not have a specialist in the position and Anderson has hinted that he might pair Gower with Kimmorley in the three Tests, with Craig Wing coming off the bench to lend variety.
John Kear's England A side are heavily based on the young players who helped Wigan into the Super League Grand Final this season, with six of them in the 17. For the London half-back, Chris Thorman, it will be a chance to bid farewell to his home crowd, because he is leaving to pursue his career in Australia with Parramatta. The Wigan full-back, Kris Radlinski, is standing by to lead Great Britain in tomorrow's Ashes series warm-up against New Zealand A at Headingley because the St Helens loose forward, Paul Sculthorpe, picked up a calf injury in training yesterday.
Widnes are beginning to lose hope of signing the Manly half-back Jason Ferris. They have had trouble obtaining a work permit for the Australian, who may, in any case, prefer to take up a coaching post at home. Promoted Salford hope to re-sign their former player, Scott Naylor, from Bradford before he goes on holiday at the end of this week.
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