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Australia Kangaroos 12
New Zealand Kiwis 26
Australia and New Zealand will collide for the 130th time at Suncorp Stadium in the annual Anzac Test on Friday night. Join The Roar from 7.50pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage.
The Australia Kangaroos will look to improve on a poor finish to 2014 in their only Test in 2015. Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens has selected a side full of some of Australia’s oldest veterans and next generation, bringing in four debutants.
Sheens will look to retain Australia’s number one ranking with a win and will hope to restore his country to their winning days, which they seemed to forget during last year’s Four Nations.
The New Zealand Kiwis are the defending Four Nations champions and have won their last two encounters with the Kangaroos. Coach Stephen Kearney has selected an experienced side featuring only one debutant.
New Zealand are not far off stealing Australia’s number one ranking and with a win they could open the race in a battle to be the world’s best. Unlike the Aussies, New Zealand will use this Anzac Test not only to prove themselves as the better country but also in preparation for the upcoming Baskerville Shield series to take place in England at the end of 2015.
Both countries have chosen to bulk up their forward packs in preparation for Friday night’s match in what shapes up to be a battle in the middle of the field. Australia’s forward pack weighs in at 958 kilograms (average of 106kg) with New Zealand weighing in at 961 kilograms (average of 107kg), making both forward packs fairly even. Outside of the forwards, however, the Kiwi’s experienced backline are set to shut down Australia’s young, inexperienced outside backs.
Five players are set to debut in the Anzac Test, four of those playing for Australia – Alex Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs), William Chambers (Melbourne Storm), Josh Dugan and Trent Merrin (both St George Illawarra Dragons). Kodi Nikorima (Brisbane Broncos) is the only Kiwis debutant replacing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Penrith Panthers).
Michael Jennings (Sydney Roosters) comes into the side for Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm) due to injury. Both Tim Sheens and Stephen Kearney have brought change into their national teams with Australia making ten swaps and New Zealand making four.
Australia and New Zealand have played on 129 occasions with Australia winning 95 and New Zealand 31 for three draws. Last time the two teams met the New Zealand Kiwis defeated a young Kangaroos side 22-18 at Westpac Stadium in the Four Nations final. However, both Sheens and Kearney have elected to chop and change their teams since last November.
Prediction: Australia by four
Join The Roar from 7.50pm (AEST) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
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