The Anzac Test between Australia and New Zealand is less than a month away, but with State of Origin already claiming headlines despite being weeks later, it’s time to start talking.
Last year was a dour game. A big factor of that was New Zealand having a woeful attack with Tohu Harris, who is normally a second rower, playing at five-eighth.
This year the Anzac Test match will be a much more even and thrilling game.
I will be barracking for the Kangaroos in this year’s Test but the New Zealand team with a different coach and different spine are in with a real shot to beat Australia and spring an upset.
Australia has lost two key players with Greg Inglis and Matt Scott both missing because of ACL injuries, while Johnathan Thurston is in doubt with a calf injury.
Dane Gagai could replace Inglis, Andrew Fifita could replace Scott and if Thurston is ruled out Anthony Milford or Michael Morgan could replace him. All are quality players but aren’t as elite or proven as those that might need replacing.
The Kiwis last year were missing players like Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kieran Foran, Simon Mannering and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves with injury, and Issac Luke who was dropped from last year’s Anzac Test. This year all those players will be returning and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson and Issac Luke have immediately gelled at club level with the Warriors which has resulted in two wins on the trot.
This could form a frightening Kiwi spine that will spark their attack with Jason Taumalolo who has run over 200 metres in all four games he has played in and Jordan Rapana who is the top try scorer with seven tries.
The best possible 17 that coach David Kidwell could pick are as follows:
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. Jordan Rapana
3. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
4. Jordan Kahu
5. Jason Nightingale
6. Kieran Foran
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Issac Luke
10. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
11. Tohu Harris
12. Jason Taumalolo
13. Simon Mannering
14. Kodi Nikorima
15. Manu Ma’u
16. Adam Blair
17. Corey Harawira-Naera
This is an excellent team that could still change because of injuries and form, but New Zealand’s spine is much better than they were last year and they’re a serious chance of defeating Australia in Canberra on May 5.
The Australian team are the recent winners of the Four Nations and are World Cup favourites. Their spine could still consist of four future immortals with Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, and Cameron Smith depending on availability.
These factors will lead to the upcoming Anzac Test being very entertaining to watch and should be the focus of the rugby league world in the next three weeks.
Whitevaliant
Roar Rookie
Last couple of years the Kiwis have looked stale and lack any sort of attack, picking Harris as a 6 summed that up really in there mind set , defend and defend and hope for a Johnson mirical Kidwill worries me, has no real track record and seems to be out of his depth but hope to be proven wrong, id pick 1- TVS 2-Vunivalu 3-Hiku 4-Whare 5-Rapana 6-Foran 7-Johnson 13-Taumalolo 12-Manering 11-Proctor 10- Bromwich 9-Luke 8-Matalino 14-Tuapua 15-Soliola 16-Mau Mau 17-Nikorima Hard leaving Kahu out, JWH = no discipline , luxury having 2 of the NRLs form fowards who can cover the centers
Raugeee
Guest
That's pretty good - I would drop Woods (completely and forever) put Boyd in as starting prop, Morgan or Moylan to take his spot on the bench.
Raugeee
Guest
I would go Maloney. He helped NSW actually win a SOO, he won a a Premiership with Cronulla in his first year there. He has already partnered Cronk in a test - the 54-12 victory v Scotland in the Four Nations last year.
Raugeee
Guest
Bleep bleep :D
Teawaroa
Guest
Really skds rubbish
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Fair enough JD. But you have to remember that the halves are a real weakness for the Kiwis. They had to put Tohu Harris there last year when injury/availability struck. There isn't a lot of depth so turning to a rookie is understandable. But the forwards are a different story. I'd have guys like Nelson Asofa-Solomona or Suaia Matagi before CNH. And if fit Taupau is one of the first picked. He's a wrecking ball who really troubles the Aussies. They'll have him on the bench for sure.
JD St George
Roar Pro
I put him in there because Te Marie Martin played six first grade games before being picked for the four nations and CHN has been a wrecking ball to start the season
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Well I would be shocked if CHN is even in the mix
JD St George
Roar Pro
http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/04/25/rugby-league-failed-anzac-test/ This is an article on the roar from last year that goes into detail about the point you're making.
JD St George
Roar Pro
Who would be your centre?
JD St George
Roar Pro
James Maloney is a defensive liability with 41 missed tackles. The whole point of a utility on the bench is to ease a player into rep level and Moylan could be the utility instead of Morgan
JD St George
Roar Pro
Who would Martin Taupau replace EJ?
JD St George
Roar Pro
*there
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
* Roadrunner
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Good question. Depends on who is available. New Zealand were doing a pretty good job of it while he wasn't in the side so I don't think there will be a problem in replacing him. But then, who knows? Maybe Kidwell will stick with him and he'll have a blinder.
JD St George
Roar Pro
Who should be their instead?
Shaun
Guest
*offensive
Shaun
Guest
Mate, I'm an ex serviceman as well and while the timing is not ideal it isn't often at all. When did we replace our hide with tissue paper?
Matth
Guest
Boyd Oates Chambers Lelua? Tedesco Maloney Cronk Fifita Smith woods Gillett Cordner Maguire Papali Klemmer Boyd Milford
Jeff Dustby
Guest
So not offensive