New Zealand
26
Match Complete
Australia
24
| 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 |
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
Rob
Guest
Roo-ted by too many blues with butter fingers.
AussiekiwiTongan
Roar Rookie
He looks Tongan. Thats usually good enough for an International Rugby League team
Emcie
Roar Guru
Didn't really require jumping down his throat
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Congrats to NZ - they were more desperate than the Aussies. Couldn't understand why the Aussies didn't try and get it out to Mitchell in the last couple of minutes. He can create something out of nothing and the right side had much less to offer. Where was Keary in the second half. Was he injured. I can't remember seeing him go off. Hunt had some moments he'd like over again and DCEs kicking was pretty ordinary. He seemed to be kicking about 30 metres when we needed 50. Shaun Johnson was excellent I thought. How good is young Manu? The Roosters are very fortunate to have the best two centres in the game. Thought Klein was pretty lenient with the 10 metres but to be fair he didn't penalise either side. His style seemed to reward the Kiwis more as they were more aggressive in defence.
Zozza
Guest
Calm down about what?
Brendon Waldron
Roar Pro
A shame this was a one off, they'd probably get a good crowd in if they were playing each other again there soon...
Danny
Roar Pro
A new Aussie combo but surely one can’t argue how much Smith, Cronk, Slater and GI meant to that team. NRL absolutely correct to dock Storm championships when it rorted the salary cap to keep those guys.
Brendon Waldron
Roar Pro
Also worth noting that the spine they first picked isn't the spine they started the game with and the spine they started the game with isn't the spine they played most of the game with, not the best start to a new era...
Zpzza
Guest
Because he is NZ born, of Samoan descent. No Tongan in him mate.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You going nxt week . .?You better be quick you mightn’t get a seat.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Calm down lad
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Good win by New Zealand. Australia will come back though. International rugby league is not dead. Thanks for watching the game folks.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
He was fantastic - very underrated.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Been a big turn around from last year for both sides
Zozza
Guest
Dally Messenger might have come in handy too. And the cricket team could do with Bradman at the moment. Great players retire - that's the game.
bazwaz
Roar Rookie
Can anyone tell me why Ken Maumolo is 'nt playing for Tonga....Not that i'm complaining but i thought he was in the Tongan team.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
To be fair the left edge butchered a fair bit as well. Dropped balls, forward passes. We went there enough to cause issues, but didn't always execute well enough. Just like QLD, the Aussies are going to take time to gel without the Superstar spine we have been used to. But I think we still have talent, just need a little patience.
Zozza
Guest
Aussies great speed on the flanks kept them in the game. Otherwise it would, and should save a ball on the boot over the line, a hiding from the Kiwis.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
It wasn’t a great spine was it. It was obvious were the ball needed to go but we couldn’t orchestrate it. Smith would have worked the Kiwis over but we played without a plan.
Pickett
Guest
We missed the big 4 badly. But we'll done Kiwis.