What: 2015 Anzac Test
Who: Kangaroos v Kiwis
When: Sunday, May 3 – 4.00pm (AEST)
Where: Suncorp Stadium
I Can Watch It On: Channel Nine
Sportsbet odds:
Kangaroos $1.38
Kiwis $3.05
Click here for the latest Sportsbet markets on the ANZAC Test
Things You Need To Know:
With the 2015 Anzac Test suspended just two hours before Friday's scheduled start time due to torrential weather, the big match will now be contested on Sunday afternoon immediately after City v Country.
Australia full-back Billy Slater was ruled out on Tuesday after succumbing to the shoulder injury he's been carrying for three weeks. Roosters centre Michael Jennings comes back into the starting side, allowing South Sydney star Greg Inglis to shift to his preferred number one jumper. There are four debutants in Tim Sheens' side with Josh Dugan (Dragons), Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), Trent Merrin (Dragons) and Will Chambers (Storm) all earning their first Test caps. Johnston replaces incumbent Josh Mansour (knee), Dugan was selected ahead of Knights young gun Sione Mata'utia (dropped) while Chambers comes in for Dylan Walker (knee). Merrin starts on the bench. Cowboys maestro Johnathan Thurston replaces Daly Cherry-Evans (18th man) while Matt Scott returns at prop for Josh Papalii after both missed the Four Nations through injury.
The Kiwis have made several changes to the side that won last year's Four Nations final. Penrith centre Dean Whare (hamstring) and Jason Taumalolo (knee) have both been ruled out. Manly's Peta Hiku switches from full-back to centre, with Roosters sensation Roger Tuivasa-Sheck named at full-back. Storm back-rower Tohu Harris starts in the back-row for Taumalolo, while Ben Matulino replaces Adam Blair at prop in the other change to the starting side.
Reason To Watch:
Greg Inglis gets his chance to wear the number one jumper for the Kangaroos after Slater was ruled out. Just sit back and enjoy.
Reason To Turn Away:
The Kiwis may have won last year's Four Nations Final 22-18 but they have struggled in the annual Anzac Day Test since its inception.
Say What:
Tough decision but the right one for the team and myself. #GoTheRoos
— Billy Slater (@billyslater) April 28, 2015Final Word:
New Zealand may have won their past two meetings with the Kangaroos but the bookies don't want to know them. That's because the Kiwis are one-from-15 in the Anzac Test since it became an annual fixture. Stephen Kearney's men are searching for a rare hat-trick of wins over the Kangaroos and can steal Australia's number one RLIF world ranking with a win on Friday night. It'll be close for the first 60 minutes but the home side will be too strong in the end. Kangaroos by 14.
TEAMS:
Australia: 1 Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs) 2 Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs) 3 Michael Jennings (Roosters) 4 Will Chambers (Storm) 5 Josh Dugan (Dragons) 6 Jonathan Thurston (Cowboys) 7 Cooper Cronk (Storm) 8 Matthew Scott (Cowboys) 9 Cameron Smith (Storm) 10 Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers) 11 Greg Bird (Titans) 12 Sam Thaiday (Broncos) 13 Corey Parker (Broncos).
Interchange: 14 Luke Lewis (Sharks) 15 Trent Merrin (Dragons) 16 Nate Myles (Titans) 17 James Tamou (Cowboys) 18th man: Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles) 19th man: Josh Papalii (Raiders).
New Zealand: 1-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2-Jason Nightingale, 3-Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 4-Peta Hiku, 5-Manu Vatuvei, 6-Kieran Foren, 7-Shaun Johnson, 8-Jesse Bromwich, 9-Issac Luke, 10-Ben Matulino, 11-Tohu Harris, 12-Kevin Proctor, 13-Simon Mannering (c),
Interchange: 14-Thomas Leuluai, 15-Matin Taupau, 16-Sam Moa, 17-Greg Eastwood, 18-Lewis Brown.