After revealing former Golden Boot winner Tommy Makinson would miss the Second Test with a wrist injury, England coach Shaun Wane engaged in a good old fashioned war of words when he described comments from new Tonga captain Addin Fonua-Blake as “insulting”.
Makinson is one of two guaranteed changes for the host nation at John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday with Warrington’s Matty Ashton named as his replacement. Wigan’s Liam Farrell would join the squad in place of Morgan Knowles (thumb), Wane said at a media opportunity in Wigan’s Robin Park complex.
Wane then went on to address comments made after the match from Mate Ma’a coach Kristian Woolf and captain Fonua-Blake.
New Zealand Warrior Fonua-Blake said after a 22-18 England win at Totally Wicked Stadium: “I feel like we lost the game ourselves, I don’t feel like they beat us. I feel like – yeah – we handed them the game.”
Wane responded: “To say they didn’t feel we won the game is bit insulting to us but it’s been said. We’ll deal with it. We just don’t do that sort of thing.”
Woolf looks ahead to Huddersfield
Former internationals England Sam Tomkins, Karl Harrison, Tony Smith, Denis Betts and Gareth Ellis performed the jersey presentation at Robin Park today.
Wane said he would be fielding his best 17 in all three Tests and with captain George Williams back from suspension at Headingley the following week, that means either Harry Smith or Mikey Lewis would have to make way in the halves.
“It’ll be the best two halves out of three,” said Wane.
Tonga have no injury worries with forward Tyson Frizell now expected to be fully recovered from a knee injury.
Both teams will have final training session at Sale rugby union in the final two days before the clash.
Match: England v Mate Ma'a Tonga
Round 3 -
home Team
England
away Team
Mate Ma'a Tonga
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for England is number 1 Jack WelsbyFullback for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 1 Will Hopoate
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Winger for England is number 2 Matty AshtonWinger for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 2 Junior Tupou
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Centre for England is number 3 Harry NewmanCentre for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 3 Will Penisini
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Centre for England is number 4 Toby KingCentre for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 4 Mosese Suli
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Winger for England is number 5 Tom JohnstoneWinger for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 5 Tolutau Koula
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Five-Eighth for England is number 6 Mikey LewisFive-Eighth for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 6 Tuimoala Lolohea
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Halfback for England is number 7 Harry SmithHalfback for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 7 Isaiya Katoa
Forwards
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Prop for England is number 8 Thomas BurgessProp for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for England is number 9 Daryl ClarkHooker for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 9 Siliva Havili
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Prop for England is number 10 Matty LeesProp for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 10 Tevita Tatola
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2nd Row for England is number 11 John Bateman2nd Row for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 11 Tyson Frizell
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2nd Row for England is number 12 Elliott Whitehead2nd Row for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 12 Haumole Olakau'atu
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Lock for England is number 13 Victor RadleyLock for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 13 Felise Kaufusi
Interchange
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Interchange for England is number 14 Danny WalkerInterchange for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 14 Dion Teaupa
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Interchange for England is number 15 Liam FarrellInterchange for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 15 Moeaki Fotuaika
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Interchange for England is number 16 Chris HillInterchange for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 16 Keaon Koloamatangi
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Interchange for England is number 17 Mike McMeekenInterchange for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 17 Eliesa Katoa
Reserves
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Replacement for England is number 18 Ben CurrieReplacement for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 18 Hame Sele
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