ROCHDALE – New Zealand will benefit from their near-defeat to Fiji in last weekend’s quarter final, according to Kiwis coach Michael Maguire.
His men found themselves trailing at the break and 18-6 behind with a quarter of the game to go before rallying to avert the upset.
“We learned a lot from that,” said Maguire. “It was actually a good game for us because it took us to a place we probably haven’t been to before.
“It was nice to see the players were able to come back and were able to show the resilience that we had spoken about.
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“Down 12-0, the players had to regroup and recalibrate what we are about and I thought their composure throughout the game and the way they’ve grown especially over the time we’ve been together really shone.
“I do believe it’s going to be good for us but it’s up to us to utilise that moving forward. We’ve definitely got a lot more in us but I’ve seen passages of play where I’ve been really pleased. What better time to make sure we give it our best game, a semi-final against Australia?”
Mal Meninga says Reagan Campbell-Gillard is ready to fight fire with fire against a New Zealand side needing to prove a point after scraping through to this week’s World Cup semi-final.
The Kangaroos meet the Kiwis on Friday (Saturday AEDT) with Campbell-Gillard back on deck to face a New Zealand side which eked out a quarter-final victory over Fiji.
The Kiwis have been unconvincing at times in this tournament and they have yet to play to their potential.
They didn’t take the lead against Fiji until the final 10 minutes and Meninga warned his side they would be facing a different prospect this week.
“They probably got an awakening and it would’ve knocked their motivation back into place,” Meninga said. “Without being disrespectful, it’s been quite an easy ride for the top teams in this tournament.
“That probably made them realise they needed to knuckle down. We are not under illusion to the challenge that’s in front of us, they’ve got a really good footy team who will want to play well. We’ve got to combat that to come out on top.”
Part of that combat will come in the shape of Campbell-Gillard, who missed the quarter-final win over Lebanon with a thigh cork.
(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
The Parramatta forward will be tasked with taking down a Kiwis’ side which boasts a formidable forward pack, including the likes of Nelson Asofa-Solomona, James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.
“He’s experienced, he was there in 2017 as well,” Meninga said. “He’s the leader of the pack and he’s looking forward to playing. He got unlucky the week before but he’s an important cog in our forward pack, he brings that aggression for us.”
Meninga said Ben Hunt would start at hooker with Melbourne No. 9 Harry Grant set to come off the bench.
Australia have won 14 of 15 World Cup games against the Kiwis, their only defeat coming in the 2008 decider.
Captain James Tedesco revealed his side would face down the haka in the shape of a boomerang.
The Kangaroos skipper said his side would have to be mindful of stopping Sydney Roosters clubmate Joey Manu running amok as he has done during the tournament to great effect
“I’m keen to play up against him, he is their main guy,” said Tedesco.
“He’s a big part of their team and he does so much work for them that it’ll be a big job defensively to keep him quiet.
“Their whole spine can create anything and spark their team.” – AAP
Matt Parish has been forced into a major alteration to his spine ahead of Samoa’s semi-final clash with England, with hooker Danny Levi withdrawn from selection on personal grounds. Fa’amanu Brown has been elevated from 18th man to the starting squad as his replacement.
The hooker had been at Huddersfield Giants in the UK but asked for a release on compassionate grounds and subsequently joined Canberra for 2023.
Levi featured in every game of the tournament so far, whereas Brown has only one appearance, off the bench in Toa Samoa’s 74-4 victory over Greece, in which he scored a try.
Spencer Leniu is the other major alteration to the squad after last weekend’s win over Tonga. The Panthers prop was withdrawn late with an injury but is back on deck this week.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
For their part, England have named a settled side with only one change to the 17 that easily dispatched Papua New Guinea last weekend.
Matty Lees has been left out to allow Bulldogs enforcer Luke Thompson to return, with coach Wane looking to favour experience as the competition reaches its pointy end.
“Matty Lees is out of the 19 and Luke Thompson is in,” said Wane. “Apart from that, it’s exactly the same as last week.
“Matty did some good things. He’s a really good player and a really good kid – but I want to have a look at Luke Thompson. It’s a strong team we’ve got out.
“I think we’re stronger than when we played Samoa and we’re doing things better. I’m happy, but I’m never satisfied with how we are playing.
“There are always ways of improving and I still think we can get better on the performance of last week against Papua New Guinea.”
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