Rugby League: Pongia tips Kiwi revival

By CHRIS BARCLEY

Former Kiwis hardman Quentin Pongia joked he might bring his boots with him when he links up with some old mates at New Zealand's one-off test with France in Perpignan on Sunday.

But considering the injury toll Gary Freeman's side have suffered it might be a wise move for the 35-test forward to throw them in his car boot as a precaution.

Pongia has been domiciled in the French capital for the past three months but is looking at a permanent move to the country's league heartland after a frustrating stint with strugglers Paris-Chatillon.

The former Canberra, Warriors and Sydney Roosters prop is eager to leave the club and head to reigning champions and current competition leaders Villeneuve although the Parisian franchise is reluctant release him.

"We're trying to sort out the process now and hopefully I'll be down there soon," said Pongia, who would combine playing with a coaching role at Villeneuve.

Pongia last played for the Kiwis at the 2000 World Cup, where the Kiwis trounced France 56-6 in the quarter-finals.

The former Kiwis skipper moved to Paris after winding down the Australian leg of his career in the lower-tier Metro Cup competition with the Sydney Bulls.

Although Paris, the city, exceeded expectations, the standard of play, the code's lack of popularity and his club's organisational problems proved a disappointment.

"League is not very strong here and it's been a let down that we haven't won yet," he said.

Chatillon prop up the French competition without a win in eight matches, their weakness reflected in the fact the club have no representation in the French side to face the Kiwis at Stade Aime Giral.

Although the Kiwis are limping towards the end of their seven-week tour, Pongia doubted the French would have the firepower to handle a Kiwis team smarting from their drawn series with Great Britain.

"They [Kiwis] should handle themselves all right although they're tired," he said. "The third test loss to Great Britain will be in the back of their heads so they want to go out on a high note."

The French took heart from their 19-16 win over New Zealand A at Carcassonne on September 29 but any optimism they had of recording a 15th victory against the Kiwis in 49 matches nosedived when they visited Tripoli earlier this month.

The favoured French lost 36-6 on November 2 to a Lebanese side featuring Sydney club players, apart from one locally-based player.

"They [France] were expecting to do better there, but I guess it isn't the easiest place to visit," Pongia said.

He expects the French to have improved since defeat in Tripoli because the domestic competition has now run eight rounds giving players more time to gel since the season opened in mid-September.

Pongia intended to stay in France until the end of the season in May and will then reassess his future.

He may head back to Australia and investigate coaching possibilities.

Meanwhile, the Kiwis were to train in Perpignan for the first time today.

Coach Gary Freeman's chief concern is who to play at hooker in place of Richard Swain, who returned to Australia last weekend.

He said Monty Betham was still doubtful after being concussed during the third test against Great Britain at Wigan last weekend.

Back-up hooker Motu Tony left the tour with a broken hand after the third tour match last month so the job may fall to Robbie Paul if his right leg, gashed late in the second test, has recovered sufficiently.

"I haven't made up my mind yet," Freeman said of his options for the rake's role.

Rumours circulating here suggested Perpignan-based New Zealand A player Philip Leuluai and or Pongia might be called in as replacements but a surprised Freeman was swift to issue a denial: "I don't know where that came from."

Leuluai is a second rower or prop at Union Treiziste Catalane and the Kiwis have plenty of cover in those positions.

French squad: Michael Van Snick (Villeneuve-sur-Lot), Renaud Guigue (Union Treiziste Catalane), Claude Sirvent (Saint-Gaudens), Arnaud Dulac (capt, Saint-Gaudens), Fourcade Abasse (Saint-Gaudens), Laurent Frayssinous (Villeneuve-sur-Lot), Julien Rinaldi (Villeneuve-sur-Lot), Laurent Carrasco (Villeneuve-sur-Lot), Sebastien Raguin (Toulouse), Pascal Jampy (Union Treiziste Catalane), Romain Gagliazzo (Villeneuve-sur-Lot), David Berthezene (Union Treiziste Catalane), Jerome Guisset (Warrington/Eng). Res: Olivier Pramil (Toulouse), Jean-Christophe Borlin (Saint-Gaudens), Djamel Fakir (Villeneuve-sur-Lot), Julien Gerin (Toulouse), Abderazak El Khalouki (Villefranche-de-Rouergue).

- NZPA