PNG Vs France

Well the best match of this weekend isn't between Parramatta or Brisbane, nor Hull and Leeds, its not in New Zealand or Leicester, its in Port Moresby, where the Papua New Guinea Kumuls will be taking on the touring French squad.

A crowd of well over 15,000 is expected when pride of PNG, clash tomorrow afternoon in the nations capital. The match is also expected to get a huge TV crowd in PNG, especially after being starved of their domestic competition to prepare for the two-test series.

The PNG squad for tomorrow's match is: Eddie Aila, Mark Mom, Duncan Nawai, Alfred Songoro, John Wilshere, Makali Aizue, David Buko, Raymond Karl, James Kops, Michael Marum, Andrew Norman, Chris Purkikil, Lawrence Goive, Tarzan Malaguna, Charlie Joe, Michael Moses, Joe Sipa, Stanley Tepend, John Waka.

Fifteen of the squad are based in PNG, and four overseas players will join them. Unfortunately the team will not include national heroes Marcus Bai, Adrian Lam and Stanley Gene, which could favour France, but the large vocal crowd, is bound to help balance it a bit.

France is ranked seventh in the World and PNG sixth, and are both official Rugby League test nations.