Kiwis vs Kangaroos: Trans-Tasman Test live scores, blog

	77	V. Holmes
	76	J. Tedesco
	75	V. Holmes
	75	F. Kaufusi
S. Johnson	69
J. Rapana	67
S. Johnson	62
E. Marsters	61
S. Johnson	54
B. Smith	53
	40	V. Holmes
	39	D. Gagai
J. Manu	34
K. Maumalo	27
	3	V. Holmes
	2	V. Holmes

5	Tries	4
3	Conversions	4
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Field Goals	0

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A changing of guard will take place on Saturday afternoon when the Kiwis and Kangaroos battle in a test match at Mt Smart Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting at 5:45pm (AEST).

Both teams will be without several mainstays from past test matches. For the Kiwis, they have been hit by injuries, with Issac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck both unavailable for Saturday’s game.

Simon Mannering is also a notable absence after retiring from the NRL at the end of the year, while Russell Packer and Ben Matulino decided to hang up the representative boots.

Penrith livewire Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been given the honour of leading the side out in Tuivasa-Sheck’s place while Brandon Smith, Jahrome Hughes, Isaiah Papali’i, Agnatius Paasi and Joseph Manu are all a chance of making their test debuts.

After a somewhat disappointing World Cup campaign last year, the New Zealanders will be eager to prove themselves as a force on the international stage once more.

And they will be doing so under new coach Michael McGuire, who fills the void left by David Kidwell.

Meanwhile, retirements have left the Kangaroos without key players, including a few possible future immortals.

Billy Slater, Jonathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith have all announced their representative retirements, after forming the most lethal international spine in test history.

Fortunately for Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga, there are readymade replacements for the quartet in James Tedesco, Luke Keary, Daly Cherry-Evans and Damien Cook.

In-form Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster was initially named in the No.6 jersey before pulling out due to personal reasons.

Latrell Mitchell has been named to make his test debut in the green and gold and will face off against fellow centre Joseph Manu in one of the more intriguing match-ups of Saturday’s match.

Prediction
The Kiwis field a well-balanced side on Saturday but despite notable absentees, the Australians still appear the classier outfit.

Kangaroos by 10.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of Saturday’s test, starting at 5:45pm (AEST) and don’t forget to leave a comment below throughout the coverage.

Game info

Kick-off: 5:45pm (AEDT)
Venue: Mt. Smart Stadium
TV: Live, Nine Network, Fox League
Online: 9Now, Foxtel Go, Foxtel Now
Betting: New Zealand $3.05, Australia $1.38
Overall record: Played 135, Australia 100, New Zealand 32, Drawn 3
Last meeting: Australia won 30-12 in last year’s Anzac Test at Canberra Stadium
Last five: Australia 5, New Zealand 0
Referee: Ashley Klein

New Zealand Kiwis
1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2. Ken Maumalo 3. Esan Marsters 4. Joseph Manu 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Shaun Johnson 7. Kodi Nikorima 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Brandon Smith 10. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Isaac Liu 13. James Fisher-Harris 14. Kenneath Bromwich 15. Leeson Ah Mau 16. Martin Taupau 17. Adam Blair 18. Peta Hiku 19. Jahrome Hughes

Australia Kangaroos
1. James Tedesco 2. Dane Gagai 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Tom Trbojevic 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Luke Keary 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. David Klemmer 9. Damien Cook 10. Jordan McLean 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Felise Kaufusi 13. Josh Mcguire 14. Ben Hunt 15. Jake Trbojevic 16. Tyson Frizell 17. Aaron Woods 18. Tyrone Peachey 19. Reagan Campbell-Gillard

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