England are a tall order for Greeks
TOWERING PEARCE-PAUL AND YOUNG READY TO TERRORISE
ENGLAND V GREECE 2.30PM, BBC1
GREECE are not just facing a lightning England right edge today – but a towering one as well.
At 6ft 7in, the freakishly strong Dom Young has already scared the life out of opponents with four tries in two World Cup appearances.
But the imposing right winger now has similarly strapping Kai Pearce-Paul, at 6ft 6in, lining up as his centre at Bramall Lane. It is a sign of the modern game that these 21-year-old juggernauts are not operating in the pack but ripping up sides out wide.
Pearce-Paul has played plenty of second-row for Wigan. But he’s so naturally talented that England coach Shaun Wane has no hesitation throwing him in the three-quarters for his Test debut.
Pearce-Paul admitted: “I guess looking at it, it is a pretty big edge.
“You could look at it as a menacing one. We know exactly what Dom can do with his speed and physicality.
“I’m in place of Kal [Watkins], who’s a big, tall, physical bloke and big presence, too.
“It will be interesting matching up with Dom. It’s my first time with him. Hopefully, we can bounce off each other and create good combinations.” Witnessing fellow rookie Young charge on to the scene obliterating everything in his path has made Pearce-Paul hope he can also take the international game by storm after finally getting his chance. He said: “Every game you watch, you’re so hungry to be the person helping the team. Seeing someone like Dom and how he does it so elegantly running the field, it’s an inspiration. It just goes to show, it doesn’t matter what age you are – if you’re playing at this level, anyone can shine.” Offloading king Pearce-Paul has enjoyed a remarkable rise. Born in Lewisham in south-east London, he played his amateur rugby league for Croydon Hurricanes.
He joined London Broncos academy but – likened to dual-code superstar Sonny Bill-Williams – was signed by Wigan in 2019 without having played a senior game. When the World Cup was last staged here in 2013, he was just a wide-eyed 12-yearold watching Bill-Williams strutting his stuff. But now he is a rarity – a Londoner representing England’s rugby league team at the biggest tournament of all. Pearce-Paul, unsurprisingly linked with the NRL and rugby union, said: “It is crazy. As a kid, watching TV and seeing the big boys, you think, ‘Wow, this is something I want to do’.
“But I didn’t really put it into perspective that it could be something I’d do one day. Now the opportunity’s come, it’s still not real to me yet. It’s still just sinking in the level I’ll be playing this weekend and how proud I’ll be. “With Croydon, we trained at a local park and got changed on the side of the pitch. But we didn’t mind. It’s some of the best days
of my life.”