Coach Tim Sheens is confident he won’t have to make any alterations to his Australian side after a virus swept through the Kangaroos camp ahead of Saturday’s Four Nations rugby league final against New Zealand.
As many as five players have been struck down by the illness, forcing Sheens to cancel a training session on Wednesday.
Several media outlets reported that Daly Cherry-Evans, Cooper Cronk, Sione Mata’utia, David Klemmer and Beau Scott were the players to be quarantined from the group.
It is the third time the team has been affected by illness during the four-week end-of-season tournament.
Greg Inglis couldn’t return after halftime in Australia’s first week loss to the Kiwis in Brisbane and Sheens was struck down in the lead-up to the win over England in Melbourne two weeks ago.
Sheens believes he will still have a full complement of players to choose from come game day.
“With the boys sick it is a couple of days and we will be ready to play,” Sheens told reporters at a civic reception for both teams at Wellington’s CBD on Wednesday.
“We delayed training today because of a little bit of illness but we will be back at training tomorrow.
“No one is in doubt.
“It is various levels between a few of them, but the doctor is taking care of it.”
“We are not looking for excuses; we expect them to be right to play on Saturday.
“We have got it under control we think.”
Scott is already carrying a hamstring injury suffered against England two weeks ago and was considered a doubtful starter against New ZEaland anyway.
Assuming the virus-stricken players come good that means Sheens is likely to play the same 17 that enjoyed a big victory over Samoa in Wollongong last weekend.
The young Kangaroos, who have blooded nine Test debutants over their three Four Nations games, have been installed as favourites for Saturday’s tournament decider against the undefeated Kiwis, who belted Australia 30-12 three weeks ago.
Sheens has been downplaying Australia’s favouritism, pointing out Australia have one less day to recover, they have had to travel and New Zealand have been the form team of the tournament.
“How they win three games, we win two and they belted us the first game, I don’t understand (how we are favourites), but anyway so be it,” he said.
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