Smith relief as Burgess gets green light to play in second Test

The 18-year-old Bradford Bulls forward was put on report by referee Tony Archer for an alleged high tackle on Kiwi prop Fuifui Moimoi during Britain's 20-14 win in the first Test at Huddersfield on Saturday.

Scroll down for more

A three-man video review panel, which included a New Zealand representative, today decided the player would face no further action, leaving him free to win his second cap at the KC Stadium where Great Britain can clinch the three-match series.

The announcement threatens to fuel another row with the tourists, who were angered by the RFL's failure to punish Adrian Morley for an alleged high tackle in the Northern Union's game against the All Golds.

Smith last week expressed some sympathy for the Kiwis' call for consistency and today re-iterated his call for an overhaul of the international judiciary, suggesting referees make more use of the sin-bin to hand out instant punishment.

"It's not worked well for many years," he said. "It's been a controversial part of our game.

"We need to come up with a system that fits right and it's got to be different to the club system. To be suspended for a Test match is a whole lot different to being suspended from one game of a 27-round competition.

"We may need to be a bit more liberal maybe with the sin bin and deal with things at the time if they're pretty clear cut.

"The incident such as Sam's the other day, which was accidental rather than deliberate, may have warranted 10 minutes in the sin bin and then it's done and dusted.

"For him to miss a game would have been unjust because it's a third of the whole series. That is like suspending someone from the normal competition for nine games."

Smith wants to see a new system introduced in time for next year's World Cup and has not ruled out instigating talks to have a trial run in the current Test series.

"If we could get it sorted by the end of the series that would be nice," he said. "I don't think it would be difficult to do.

"It's a matter of sitting down and being reasonable. I think we could probably come to an agreement with the Kiwis and then we'd take it to the International Federation."

Smith admitted he was concerned about losing Burgess, who scored the match-winning try in Saturday's 20-14 triumph to emulate the previous youngest Great Britain debutant Andy Farrell, who touched down against the Kiwis on his first appearance in 1993.

"It's great to have him available," he added. "He did some good stuff last week for us.

"It's fair to say he needs to make some adjustments and he certainly will. He plays it tough but he also plays it fair. There was no malice in what Sam did."

Burgess said: "I'm in the clear so I'm happy. It's definitely a relief. I would have been heartbroken to have missed the Test.

"It would be good to get out there again if I'm selected. I have got a few areas to work on in my defensive technique, just little things I need to twitch.

"Hopefully, I will get there with a bit of hard work this week - no more high shots."

Burgess looks certain to keep his place but Smith insists he has not ruled out changing a winning team.

Hull centre Kirk Yeaman (ankle) and Leeds stand-off Danny McGuire (hand) have both recovered from injury which ruled them out of the first Test while Leeds loose forward Kevin Sinfield was also back in training today after shaking off the stomach bug that forced his late withdrawal at Huddersfield.

"Kevin is fine, fit and well and raring to go again," said Smith. "Both Kirk and Danny come into the fray as well so I have more dilemmas, which is good. It's a nice spot to be in.

"If we feel a change is necessary, we'll make that change. I've done that plenty of times before. I've been a bit renowned for doing that at times but we need to discuss it as a coaching team."