Peacock’s men mark the end of an era

Nov 12 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

GREAT BRITAIN captain Jamie Peacock says his side’s hard-fought third-Test win over the Kiwis brought him more satisfaction than the 44-0 rout in Hull.

Peacock’s men marked the end of an era in fitting fashion with a 28-22 victory in Wigan that completed a 3-0 whitewash in the Gillette Fusion Test Series with New Zealand.

Playing as Great Britain for the last time on home soil, they were pushed all the way by a rejuvenated Kiwi side who looked determined to redeem themselves and threatened to pull off a shock when they led 12-0 after 10 minutes.

“We got smashed early on,” said Peacock. “The Kiwis were fired up and forced us into errors.

“But we showed great resolve as a team to come back and win the game, which was pleasing. You probably get more out of that as a team than you do a 44-0 win.

“When the pressure is on you find out about people and we found out about people tonight in the second half.”

In a series which has considerably lifted England’s prospects ahead of the 2008 World Cup, Sean O’Loughlin was the latest player to enhance his reputation with a magnificent all-round display on his home ground which earned him the man-of-the-match award.

O’Loughlin had a hand – or a foot – in three of Britain’s five tries and produced another prodigious tackling stint.

Prop forward Adrian Morley had another towering game and pushed scrum-half Rob Burrow close for the title of player of the series while Peacock was typically inspirational with his wholehearted efforts.

Peacock admitted the atmosphere in the dressing room afterwards reflected relief as much as joy after Britain finally completed the job they set out to do at the start of the series.

“It’s a fantastic feeling,” he said. “We did well to win the game. We didn’t want to collect the trophy on the back of a loss.

“A generation of players have missed out on this. I’m in a fortunate position. I’ve got a great set of players.”

While Leeds second rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan became the fourth Great Britain player in the series to embark on an international career, his Rhinos team-mate Keith Senior dropped a heavy hint that he may be ready to put his retirement plans on hold.

The blockbusting centre, who at 30 is the oldest player in the squad, admitted that a series whitewash would be a fitting way to bow out but concedes he could be tempted to play for England in the World Cup.

“I suppose it’s going to be down to performances next season,” he said. “You’re a long time retired and there is the prospect of the World Cup, which everybody is excited about.

“We’ll see how the season starts and how the body is feeling. Everybody keeps saying I’m rolling back the years and it’s been great to get a 3-0 win. That was the target and to achieve it is a superb way to finish off Great Britain.

“We’ve had the one-off wins but it was 14 years since the last series win.

“This makes up for the past.”

Senior defied a cut above his left eye which was swathed in bandage and later required 14 stitches to score his 12th try for Great Britain on his 33rd appearance.

That came during a purple patch either side of half-time which also brought tries for James Graham, who forced his way over with his first touch of the ball, David Hodgson and Burrow.

When Danny McGuire successfully chased a kick from O’Loughlin to score his side’s fifth try, to which Burrow added his third conversion, Britain had a 14-point cushion which was enough to stave off a late Kiwi fightback.

THE GILLETTE FUSION TEST SERIES: JJB Stadium: Great Britain (14) 28. Tries: Wilkin, Senior, Hodgson, Burrow, McGuire. Goals: Burrow 4. New Zealand (12) 22. Tries: Stanley 2, Whaturia, Tuiaki. Goals: J. Smith 3. Att: 21,235