Umaga, Sonny Bill help Kiwis adjust

Former All Black captain Tana Umaga and renegade Kiwi star Sonny Bill Williams have been involved in the Kiwis' preparation for tonight's Four Nations game against France.

Williams and Umaga, now with the Toulon rugby club, made the 370 km drive to Toulouse to dine with the Kiwis on Tuesday night, with New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney saying: "It was nice to have them here - they gave the lads a bit of an idea of French culture and it was good to have them back.''

But Williams' plans to watch the game live at the Stade Ernest Wallon were stymied by Toulon's fixture list: they play three hours earlier against Bayonne and Kearney said he didn't ask him if he planned to return to league.

Having named a full-strength team himself, on the eve of the match, Kearney had no idea of the French line-up, and was asking journalists if they knew.

But French coach Bobbie Goulding said he'd been granted an extension beyond the 48-hour deadline to supply a side because of an injury crisis which left him with just 18 fit players at training.

Goulding gave late calls to two Kiwi-born players - Andrew Bentley, brother of French hooker Kane, who has been in France since he was five, and 31-year-old former Mt Albert and New Zealand Maori backrow Artie Shead, who has played in France on and off since 1999.

Sebastian Raguin, Jean-Phillipe Baile and Cyril Gossard are all out of the side with injury; David Ferriol is suspended.

"I certainly have a fair idea on who they will pick going on last week's game,'' said Kearney. [halfback Thomas] Bosc and [fullback Clint] Greenshields are dangerous players and their two wingers are handy too. Their pack is very big and we're prepared for a physical challenge.''

The Kiwis were only due their first training run at the Stade Ernest Wallon, home of the Toulouse rugby club, at 4pm on the eve of the game, although that didn't bother

Kearney. He had a slightly disrupted week, with a delayed flight and then difficulty with driving the team coach up the winding roads to the team hotel on the picturesque Place du Capitol. But he was unruffled, and had given the players Thursday off to explore either the city or the nearby historic town of Carcassonne:

"I've encouraged the players to appreciate the challenges [of being in France].''

Unlike Australia, who want to see whistler Steve Ganson before they play England, Kearney wasn't seeking a pre-match meeting with referee Shayne Hayne, and nominated him as the best man for the job when the Kiwis play England next weekend.

And he also deadbatted the remarkable comments of Australian centre Jarryd Hayne, who claimed England would be ready to throw that game if it meant the Australians, not the Kiwis, would qualify for the Four Nations final.

"I don't want to comment on that, it would make him look bad - put it that way,'' said Kearney.

With temperatures above 20 degrees all week here, tonight's game will be played on a fast, dry pitch in good weather.

- © Fairfax NZ News