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Nathan Cleary will get his turn to make the Kangaroos halfback spot his own against Scotland as one of seven new faces for Australia’s second World Cup outing following their impressive first-up 42-8 triumph over Fiji.
He will also be one of six Test debutants along with Panthers teammates Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo, Roosters prop Lindsay Collins, South Sydney’s Campbell Graham and Canterbury’s Matt Burton.
Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, who has represented the Kangaroos and Fiji in the international arena, is the other addition to the line-up as coach Mal Meninga looks to give all his 24 squad members a chance in the three group games before the elimination stage of the quarter-finals.
Reuben Cotter is out this weekend due to the concussion protocols after copping a heavy knock against the Bati while the forward’s Cowboys teammate, winger Murray Taulagi, has also been sidelined after suffering a broken nose.
Second-rower Jeremiah Nanai will be 18th man while Valentine Holmes, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui are being rested for the tussle with the Bravehearts at Coventry, which kicks off at 5.30am (AEDT) on Saturday.
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Cleary can’t wait to combine with Cameron Munster in the halves after years of taking him on at club and state level.
“I’m in awe of what he can do on the footy field,” Cleary told reporters in Coventry. “So being able to try and team up with him and unlock that ability is something I look forward to.
“I think we’re pretty competitive so it just naturally comes on the field that’s what makes it cooler.
“We have a mutual respect for each other that we’re both going to compete and play hard.”
(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for RLWC)
“(I’ll have to get up to speed) pretty quickly. I think the way we (Munster and Cleary) both play, we could gel quite well.
“Off the field we get along pretty well, too. Combinations are a big thing, so it’s something I look forward to.”
Campbell-Gillard will start at prop in the green and gold for the first time since his fifth Test for Australia in 2017, the 6-0 World Cup final victory over England at Suncorp Stadium.
He and Holmes are Australia’s only two remaining members from that team.
Graham will replace Taulagi on the wing with Burton and Jack Wighton in the centres. Wighton has been elevated to the starting side after being used as an interchange utility against Fiji.
Martin and Yeo come into the back row alongside Angus Crichton.
Patrick Carrigan has also been promoted to the run-on side from the bench to start in the front row with RCG.
Collins has not played since Round 24 of the NRL season after being suspended four games for a hip-drop tackle – he was able to use the recent Prime Minister’s XIII game against Papua New Guinea as part of his four-game ban.
He is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Newtown legend Lionel Williamson, who represented Australia in the 1968 and ‘70 World Cup victories.
Collins missed most of last season with an ACL tear but fought his way back into the Queensland Origin team with strong displays for the Roosters before realising a pre-season goal in making the World Cup squad.
“There’s been a bit of adversity there,” he said. “I set out a few goals and this was the plan. So I’m happy, grateful and humbled to be here.”
Scotland suffered a 28-4 defeat at the hands of Italy to open the tournament and will be lucky to keep the final scoreline respectable up against the star-studded Kangaroos.
Experienced second-rower Euan Aitken, who is switching from the Warriors to the Dolphins next season, is their only player with NRL experience.
Kangaroos team to play Scotland
1 James Tedesco (captain)
19 Campbell Graham
12 Matt Burton
10 Jack Wighton
9 Josh Addo-Carr
7 Cameron Munster
14 Nathan Cleary
6 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
3 Ben Hunt
13 Patrick Carrigan
17 Angus Crichton
21 Liam Martin
24 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
4 Valentine Holmes
5 Jake Trbojevic
20 Harry Grant
15 Lindsay Collins
Reserves
22 Jeremiah Nanai
2 Daly Cherry-Evans
Not playing: 11 Cameron Murray, 16 Reuben Cotter, 18 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 8 Latrell Mitchell, 23 Murray Taulagi