Australian rugby league selectors have lit a trans-Tasman fuse, handing a debut green and gold jumper to New Zealand-born prop James Tamou for Friday night’s Auckland Test.
Just months after narrowly missing Kiwi selection, when part of the New Zealand train-on squad for last year’s Four Nations tournament, Tamou will instead face up to the haka as part of a powerful Kangaroos pack.
Australia coach Tim Sheens said he had no qualms picking the in-form North Queensland prop, who moved to Sydney at age 13 after growing up in Palmerston North.
“He’s eligible to play for Australia – he wants to play for Australia,” Sheens said.
“The lad’s made his decision. That’s what he wants to do, as many other lads have done with respect to play for New Zealand or play for Australia.
“It’s an issue for the players to make a decision, same with Queensland or NSW, but they make that decision based on the criteria.”
Criteria or not, Tamou’s selection is sure to be met with derision across the ditch, with New Zealand high-performance manager Tony Kemp labelling Australia’s pursuit of the 23-year-old “embarrassing”.
Sheens, though, was not concerned by the Kiwi reaction.
“I could throw things at them too but I’m not going to … I don’t think we need to get into a slanging match about it,” he said.
“My job’s to get the side ready to play – that’s all I’ll be concentrating on. If it’s a talking point in New Zealand, let it be so.”
Tamou’s selection aside, the remainder of the Australian squad threw up few surprises.
Paul Gallen’s move to the front row – and elevation to vice captain under new skipper Cameron Smith – opened the door for David Taylor to earn a first Test jumper, Taylor making the most of incumbent Tony Williams’ suspension.
Sheens said his decision to go with Taylor in the run-on side was partly due to what he anticipated would be a fiery start.
“The Kiwis are going to start with a very big, strong side and I think we’ve got to answer that and make their edges worry a little bit with the size,” Sheens said.
“I believe that big men like him (Taylor) are sometimes better starting – warm up and start, rather than warm up, get cold on the bench.”
Eleven members of the Australian side which won the Four Nations last year retained their places, but some of those who have come in such as Billy Slater and Justin Hodges are long-term Kangaroos.
“The Australian side’s basically picked on form. There’s always an exception to that rule in some cases with key players that have been there, done that, for some time.
“I think you’ve pretty much got to play your way out of the Australian squad and a lot of those guys have been the incumbents for some time.”