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Your ultimate guide to the Rugby League World Cup, week 2: All the matches, how to stream and how to watch on TV

Fiji has advanced to the next stage of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. (NRLPhotos)
2nd November, 2017
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After an enthralling opening week at the Rugby League World Cup, places in the finals will begin to become clearer during Week 2, with another seven matches on the menu. This is The Roar‘s ultimate guide to all the matches being played this weekend as well as how to stream them.

While most of the first week’s action went as expected, there was a major upset in the crossover game as Ireland thumped Italy. It means the Irish keep themselves in with a chance to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Elsewhere, Australia beat England, Fiji and Tonga both cracked a half-century against the USA and Scotland respectively, and all of New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Lebanon picked up victories.

Here is all the information you need for Week 2.

» Check out the complete RLWC 2017 squads

How to broadcast and live stream the tournament

The tournament is being broadcast in its entirety on Channel Seven. Most games are on 7Mate, however Australian games are on the main 7.

To live stream the tournament, you can use their 7 live website or mobile application. That includes a bonus stream of Italy versus USA game, which is not being televised live.

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» View the full RLWC 2017 draw

All times below are AEDT.

Group A: Australia vs France

Kick-off: 8pm, Friday
Venue: Canberra Stadium
TV: Live, 7 (NSW, QLD, VIC, ACT), 7Mate (WA, SA), Southern Cross TV (NT, TAS)
Referee: Robert Hicks

Australia
1. Billy Slater 2. Tom Trbojevic 3. Will Chambers 4. Josh Dugan 5. Josh Mansour 6. Michael Morgan 7. James Maloney 8. Jordan McLean 9. Cameron Smith 10. Regan Campbell-Gillard 11. Wade Graham 12. Tyson Frizell 13. Josh Mcguire
Interchange: 14. Cameron Munster 15. Felise Kaufusi 16. Aaron Woods 17. David Klemmer 18. Valentine Holmes 19. Matt Gillett 20. Boyd Cordner 21. Dane Gagai

France
1. Mark Kheirallah 2. Fouad Yaha 3. Bastien Ader 4. Olivier Arnoud 5. Ilias Bergal 6. Remy Marginet 7. Theo Fages 8. Maxime Herold 9. Eloi Pelissier 10. Julian Bousquet 11. Benjamin Garcia 12. Benjamin Jullien 13. Jason Baitieri
Interchange: 14. Thibault Margalet 15. Mickael Rouch 16. Romain Navarrete 17. John Boudebza 18. Lucas Albert 19. Antoni Maria 20. Nabil Djalout 21. Lambert Belmas

After winning their opener, Australia have made four changes for this clash against a desperate French outfit, who lost to Lebanon on Sunday. Off a short turnaround against the best team in the tournament though, they will be struggling to save their slender finals chances with the Kangaroos heavy favourites for a big victory.

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Group B: New Zealand vs Scotland

Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday
Venue: Christchurch Stadium, Cristchurch
TV: Live, 7Mate
Referee: Henry Perenara

New Zealand
1. Roger Tuivasa-sheck 2. Jason Nightingale 3. Dean Whare 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Peta Hiku 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Martin Taupau 9. Elijah Taylor 10. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 11. Kenneath Bromwich 12. Joseph Tapine 13. Adam Blair
Interchange: 14. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 15. Russell Packer 16. Addin Fonua-blake 17. Danny Levi 18. Thomas Leuluai 19. Dallin Watene Zelezniak 20. Simon Mannering 21. Jordan Rapana

Scotland
1. Alex Walker 2. Lewis Tierney 3. Ben Hellewell 4. Lachlan Stein 5. Matthew Russell 6. Danny Brough 7. Oscar Thomas 8. Luke Douglas 9. Danny Addy 10. Ben Kavanagh 11. Jarred Anderson 12. Dale Ferguson 13. James Bell
Interchange: 14. Kane Bentley 15. Sam Brooks 16. Brandan Wilkinson 17. John Walker 18. Andrew Bentley 19. Callum Phillips 20. Shane Toal 21. Frankie Mariano

New Zealand hammered Samoa in their first game, but it was a tight first half and they still have a point to prove. Like Australia, they have made a number of changes for their second match.

Scotland were woeful in their loss to Tonga, but are a significantly better side than they showed. Whether that will come out here as they try to save their tournament is anyone’s guess.

Group B: Samoa vs Tonga

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Kick-off: 5:30pm, Saturday
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
TV: 5:30pm
Referee: Ben Cummins

Samoa
1. Young Tonumaipea 2. Ricky Leutele 3. Timoteo Lafai 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Joseph Paulo 7. Ben Roberts 8. Junior Paulo 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Herman Essese 11. Joshua Papalii 12. Frank Pritchard 13. Leeson Ah Mau
Interchange: 14. Fa’amanu Brown 15. Zane Musgrove 16. Sam Lisone 17. Bunty Afoa 18. Sam Tagataese 19. Frank Winterstein 20. Jarome Luai 21. Matthew Wright

Tonga
1. William Hopoate 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Solomone Kata 5. David Fusitua 6. Tuimoala Lolohea 7. Mafoa’aeata Hingano 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Siliva Havili 10. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Sika Manu 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Sione Katoa 15. Sam Moa 16. Peni Terepo 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila 18. Ukuma Ta’ai 19. Manu Vatuvei 20. Konrad Hurrell 21. Samisoni Langi

This has been touted as the possible game of the tournament. The passion on display from the island nations in their first clash was clear to see and will only step up a bar here as a rivalry ignites. Tonga are favourites, but with a sell-out crowd expected, this is going to be fantastic to watch.

Group A: England vs Lebanon

Kick-off: 8pm, Saturday
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
TV: Live, 7Mate
Referee: Ben Thaler

England
1. Jonny Lomax 2. Jermaine McGillvary 3. Kallum Watkins 4. John Bateman 5. Ryan Hall 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Luke Gale 8. Chris Hill 9. Josh Hodgson 10. James Graham 11. Ben Currie 12. Elliot Whitehead 13. Sean O’Loughlin
Interchange: 14. Alex Walmsley 15. Chris Heighington 16. Thomas Burgess 17. James Roby 18. George Williams 19. Mike McMeeken 20. Mark Percival 21. Stefan Ratchford

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Lebanon
1. Daniel Abou Sleiman 2. Travis Robinson 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Jason Wehbe 5. Abbas Miski 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Robbie Farah 8. Tim Mannah 9. Michael Lichaa 10. Alex Twal 11. Chris Saab 12. Ahmad Ellaz 13. Nick Kassis
Interchange: 14. Mitchell Mamary 15. Ray Moujalli 16. Jamie Clark 17. Jason Wehbe 18. Elias Sukkar 19. Anthony Layoun 20. Andrew Kazzi 21. James Elias

Lebanon pinched a historic first ever Rugby League World Cup victory at the death against France last weekend – and it’s a win which should secure their spot in the quarter-finals unless France find a way to beat either England or Australia.

While Lebanon aren’t expected to win here, England need to make a statement after being soundly beaten by Australia last Friday in Melbourne.

Group C: Papua New Guinea vs Ireland

Kick-off: 5pm, Sunday
Venue: National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
TV: Live, 7Mate
Referee: Matt Cecchin

Papua New Guinea
1. David Mead 2. Justin Olam 3. Kato Ottio 4. Nene Macdonald 5. Garry Lo 6. Ase Boas 7. Watson Boas 8. Stanton Albert 9. Kurt Baptiste 10. Luke Page 11. Rhyse Martin 12. Willie Minoga 13. Paul Aiton
Interchange: 14. James Segeyaro 15. Wellington Albert 16. Stargroth Amean 17. Enoch Maki 18. Moses Meninga 19. Lachlan Lam 20. Nixon Putt 21. Wartovo Puara

Ireland
1. Scott Grix 2. Shannon Mcdonell 3. Ed Chamberlain 4. Michael Morgan 5. Liam Kay 6. Api Pewhairangi 7. Liam Finn 8. Brad Singleton 9. Michael McIlorum 10. Kyle Amor 11. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook 12. Oliver Roberts 13. George King
Interchange: 14. Tyrone McCarthy 15. James Hasson 16. Joe Philbin 17. Anthony Mullally 18. Will Hope 19. Joe Keyes 20. Matty Hadden 21. Jack Higginson

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Papua New Guinea thrashed Wales last week, ramming home their advantage of playing in Port Moresby. Ireland though were one of the surprise packets of the opening weekend, coming away with a win over Italy – playing in Papua New Guinea will be a completely different challenge though. It’s a game which might decide who goes to the quarter-finals as well, so there’s plenty riding on it.

Group D: Italy vs USA

Kick-off: 5pm, Sunday
Venue: Townsville Stadium
TV: Delay, 7 Mate – can stream live
Referee: Ashley Klein

Italy
1. James Tedesco 2. Mason Cerruto 3. Justin Castellaro 4. Nathan Milone 5. Josh Mantellato 6. Terry Campese 7. Ryan Ghietti 8. Paul Vaughan 9. Joey Tramontana 10. Daniel Alvaro 11. Joel Riethmuller 12. Mark Minichiello 13. Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14. Chris Centrone 15. Brendan Santi 16. Shannon Wakeman 17. Jayden Walker 18. Gavin Hiscox 19. Richard Lepori 20. Christophe Calegri 21. Joel Celerino

USA
1. Corey Makelim 2. Ryan Burroughs 3. Junior Vaivai 4. Jonathan Alley 5. Bureta Faraimo 6. Kristian Freed 7. Tui Samoa 8. Eddy Pettybourne 9. David Marando 10. Mark Offerdahl 11. Danny Howard 12. Matt Shipway 13. Nicholas Newlin
Interchange: 14. Sam Tochterman-talbott 15. Fotukava Malu 16. Steve Howard 17. Gabriel Farley 18. Charles Joseph Cortalano 19. Joe Eichner 20. David Ulch 21. Joshua Rice

Both teams were comprehensively beaten in Week 1 – the USA by Fiji and Italy by Ireland in the crossover match. Neither team appear likely to qualify for the quarter-finals now, but it still serves as their respective best chances to pull off a victory.

Crossover: Fiji vs Wales

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Kick-off: 7:30pm, Sunday
Venue: Townsville Stadium
TV: Live, 7Mate
Referee: Chris Kendall

Fiji
1. Kevin Naiqama 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Taane Milne 4. Akuila Uate 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Jarryd Hayne 7. Henry Raiwalui 8. Ashton Sims 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Eloni Vunakece 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Brayden Wiliame 13. Tui Kamikamica
Interchange: 14. Joe Lovodua 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Junior Roqica 17. Ben Nakubuwai 18. James Storer 19. Pio Seci 20. Salesi Faingaa 21. Sitiveni Moceidreke

Wales
1. Elliot Kear 2. Rhys Williams 3. Michael Channing 4. Christiaan Roets 5. Regan Grace 6. Courtney Davies 7. Danny Ansell 8. Craig Kopczak 9. Steve Parry 10. Phil Joseph 11. Rhodri Lloyd 12. Joe Burke 13. Morgan Knowles
Interchange: 14. Matty Fozard 15. Matthew Barron 16. Ben Evans 17. Dalton Grant 18. Josh Ralph 19. Ben Morris 20. Gavin Bennion 21. Andrew Gay

The week finishes with a second game in Townsville, and a hugely important one. Fiji need to keep winning after beating the USA last week, while Wales are looking to bounce back from a 50-4 mauling at the hands of Papua New Guinea.

It serves as Wales’ last chance to keep finals hopes alive, while Fiji could suffer a huge set back.

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