Sponsored by
England boss Smith: Lay off Dan!
Coach Tony Smith has hit back at the boo-boys who jeered Leeds Rhinos stand-off Danny McGuire's latest performance for England.
Smith's decision to substitute McGuire in the second half of last weekend's 26-16 loss to Australia was cheered by a section of the crowd in Wigan's DW Stadium.
But Smith insisted that was undeserved and declared himself delighted with the way McGuire has responded in training this week.
"I don't like jeering by anybody of anybody," Smith said following England training in Leeds. "Everybody who is out there tries their hardest.
"All you can do when somebody's a bit down, or not at his best, is try and encourage him.
"I don't know of anybody who plays better after he has been jeered. But that's life, Danny will handle it like a real professional – and has.
"He just gets on with things. He is a great professional, he loves playing for his country and he tries his hardest every time he goes on the training field or the field of play.
"It's a bit like life in general. Every day we go to work, some days we have good days and some days we have bad days. Sometimes you can't put your finger on why.
"I defy anybody who can tell me they have a great day every time they go to work."
England take on New Zealand in their final Gillette Four Nations group game at Huddersfield on Saturday.
Smith was naming his team to the players today and will make it public tomorrow afternoon – and he said he's considering sticking with McGuire and Wigan's Sam Tomkins as his half-back pairing.
"They had some moments of good combination and moments when they were good together – and moments when they weren't so good together," he said.
"Individually they tried really hard. Both of them tried their cotton socks off. They are in there with a chance again this week."
McGuire is keen for another chance to show what he's made of.
He said: "I was disappointed with some areas of my game last week, but I know what I need to do to put things right and hope Tony gives me a chance to help the boys build on what we did in the second half last Saturday."
Meanwhile, Smith admitted he is facing some tough selection decisions.
"They are all bouncing at the moment and showing how good they can be, they are on their toes."
Smith added: "Every selection's tough, when you've got to leave out somebody who's fit and healthy and who wants to play.
"When I have to do that it's a tough job, because all of them want to play for their country.
"I have got a few decisions to make this week because they are all fit and healthy, but that's a good position to be in.
"We will pick who deserves to be there and who we feel best fits this game as well."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
