Victories for the Kiwis over old foes Australia have traditionally been hard to come by but none have been sweeter than the 30-0 triumph in last year's Pacific Championships final in Waikato.
That stunning win was the Kiwis' first over Australia since 2018 and signalled what many believe to be a changing of the guard at the top of the international game.
The Kiwis get a chance to show that was no flash in the pan when they host a Kangaroos outfit coming off a clunky 18-0 win over Tonga in the opening game of the Pacific Championships.
With the mercurial Shaun Johnson coming out of retirement to answer an SOS from coach Stacey Jones, the crowd at Apollo Projects Stadium will be at fever pitch and the Kangaroos will be hit with a tidal wave of parochial Kiwi support.
Lining up opposite Johnson is Mitch Moses, a man in just his second Test match but never one to be short of confidence or have any doubts about his ability to deliver on the big stage.
Moses' combination with fellow debutant Tom Dearden was far from perfect in Brisbane but with another week of preparation on the training paddock the dynamic duo are sure to be a handful for the Kiwis
Up front the Kiwis have the hugely respected James Fisher-Harris leading the way and his influence during the week and on game day will be enormous.
Meeting JFH head on are Lindsay Collins and Pat Carrigan, ready to do whatever it takes to get their team across the line and into the Pacific Championships final on November 10.
Match: Kiwis v Kangaroos
Week 2 -
home Team
Kiwis
2nd Position
away Team
Kangaroos
1st Position
Venue: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Team News
Kiwis: A late change with Naufahu Whyte to start the game and Griffin Neame shifting to the bench. James Fisher-Harris captains a new-look Kiwis outfit that includes five Test debutants in fullback Keano Kini, winger Will Warbrick, hooker Phoenix Crossland, prop Naufahu Whyte and Jordan Riki. With Jahrome Hughes injured, favourite son Shaun Johnson comes out of retirement to play halfback alongside Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who shifts to No.6 in the absence of Dylan Brown (knee). Centre Peta Hiku plays his first Test since the 2022 World Cup semi-final while Kodi Nikorima makes his first appearance since 2019. Knights prop Leo Thompson is serving a one-match ban for a Careless High Tackle in week one of the NRL finals and will be available for selection against Tonga. Erin Clark is 18th man.
Kangaroos: The Kangaroos are 1-17 with no late changes. Mal Meninga sticks with the same 17 that got the job done against Tonga. Matt Burton retains the No.14 jersey and will hope to get more game time than the nine minutes he played in Brisbane while Hudson Young (12 minutes) is also looking to play more of a role. Halves Mitch Moses and Tom Dearden will be better for the run after combining for the first time last week. Ben Hunt is again the 18th man.
Match: Kiwis v Kangaroos
Week 2 -
home Team
Kiwis
away Team
Kangaroos
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Kiwis is number 1 Keano KiniFullback for Kangaroos is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Kiwis is number 2 Jamayne IsaakoWinger for Kangaroos is number 2 Xavier Coates
-
Centre for Kiwis is number 3 Matthew TimokoCentre for Kangaroos is number 3 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
-
Centre for Kiwis is number 4 Peta HikuCentre for Kangaroos is number 4 Tom Trbojevic
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Winger for Kiwis is number 5 Will WarbrickWinger for Kangaroos is number 5 Zac Lomax
-
Five-Eighth for Kiwis is number 6 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFive-Eighth for Kangaroos is number 6 Tom Dearden
-
Halfback for Kiwis is number 7 Shaun JohnsonHalfback for Kangaroos is number 7 Mitchell Moses
Forwards
-
Prop for Kiwis is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Kangaroos is number 8 Patrick Carrigan
-
Hooker for Kiwis is number 9 Phoenix CrosslandHooker for Kangaroos is number 9 Harry Grant
-
Prop for Kiwis is number 15 Naufahu WhyteProp for Kangaroos is number 10 Lindsay Collins
-
2nd Row for Kiwis is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i2nd Row for Kangaroos is number 11 Angus Crichton
-
2nd Row for Kiwis is number 12 Scott Sorensen2nd Row for Kangaroos is number 12 Cameron Murray
-
Lock for Kiwis is number 13 Joseph TapineLock for Kangaroos is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Kiwis is number 10 Griffin NeameInterchange for Kangaroos is number 14 Matt Burton
-
Interchange for Kiwis is number 14 Kodi NikorimaInterchange for Kangaroos is number 15 Mitchell Barnett
-
Interchange for Kiwis is number 16 Marata NiukoreInterchange for Kangaroos is number 16 Reuben Cotter
-
Interchange for Kiwis is number 17 Jordan RikiInterchange for Kangaroos is number 17 Hudson Young
Reserves
-
Replacement for Kiwis is number 18 Erin ClarkReplacement for Kangaroos is number 18 Ben Hunt
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Kiwis have won their past three Tests against the Kangaroos on New Zealand soil.
- Australia have not beaten the Kiwis in New Zealand since 2012.
- The Kiwis have won their last seven Tests on home soil.
- The Kangaroos play their first Test in Christchurch since 1989.
- Kiwi winger Jamayne Isaako has scored 46 points in his past three Tests.
- Australian centre Tom Trbojevic has scored four tries in his past four Tests.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
