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Jared Waerea-Hargreaves during the haka - Source: Photosport -
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Australia Kangaroos v New Zealand Kiwis; 9:00pm, Saturday at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Last clash: Australia beat New Zealand 34-20 in Auckland (7th November, 2010) 6
TAB: Australia $1.27, New Zealand $3.55
Forget any talk about a new haka being to blame for the Kiwis' comprehensive loss at Eden Park last week. The home side were beaten fair and square by a much sharper Australian squad.
New Zealand, this week, get a chance to make amends in the one that really counts; though there'll need to be major improvements across the park for them to have any chance of beating their rival for the first time in nearly two years.
Stephen Kearney has resisted the urge to make wholesale changes to his side with two changes to the starting 13 with impressive prop Greg Eastwood replacing Frank-Paul Nuuausala and Bronson Harrison coming in for Sika Manu in the second row. Frank Pritchard is missing with a knee injury that forced him from the field last week and will be a loss to the side after being one of the stand-out forwards.
Australia bring back their big guns for the final with captain Darren Lockyer and Billy Slater returning to take their places in the star-studded backline. Luke Lewis who scored twice in their win over England returns to the second row. Veteran prop Petero Civoniceva was not chosen for the side with fellow Queenslanders David Shillington, Matthew Scott and Nate Myles preferred by Coach Tim Sheens.
Crucial for the Kiwis plans is the performance of skipper Benji Marshall. The exciting playmaker may have been a little harsh on himself when he said his performance wasn't up to scratch last week (it was after all his brilliance that led to two tries), but this shows the high standards he sets himself. He will be responsible for igniting a backline which looked out of ideas for much of the Eden Park Test.
As always Australia must go into the match as strong favourites, playing on their home patch off the back of a clinical win. However, as we learned first in 2005 then once more in 2008, even when all odds are against them the Kiwis can fly on their day.
Key: Starting strongly. The Kangaroos blitzed the Kiwis scoring all their points in the first twenty minutes of each half. New Zealand will have to come out firing from the word go in order to stage an upset.
Tip: Kangaroos
Kangaroos: Billy Slater, Brett Morris, Brent Tate, Willie Tonga, Lote Tuqiri, Darren Lockyer (captain), Cooper Cronk, Matthew Scott, Cameron Smith, David Shillington, Luke Lewis, Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen
Interchange (two to be omitted): Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Greg Bird, Kurt Gidley, Nate Myles, Anthony Watmough, Darius Boyd
Kiwis: Lance Hohaia, Jason Nightingale. Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Junior Sa'u, Sam Perrett, Benji Marshall (captain), Nathan Fien, Greg Eastwood, Thomas Leuluai, Adam Blair, Bronson Harrison, Simon Mannering, Jeremy Smith
Interchange (three to be omitted): Issac Luke, Ben Matulino, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sam McKendry, Sika Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Lewis Brown
