Rugby League World Cup: Teams for week two fixtures

TEAMS: MAL Meninga has named four debutants in his 17-man squad to take on France — Week two Rugby League World Cup teams here!

Rugby League World Cup artwork

KANGAROOS coach Mal Meninga has named four debutants in his 17-man team for Australia’s Rugby League World Cup clash against France on Friday night. Tom Trbojevic and Reagan Campbell-Gillard have been included in the starting line-up, while Cameron Munster and Felise Kaufusi will come off the bench in Canberra.

The quartet are among six changes Meninga made to the team that defeated England 18-4 in their tournament-opener last week.

Michael Morgan has retained his spot at five-eighth after an indifferent performance against the Lions, and will be partnered by James Maloney.

Rugby League World Cup artwork

Captain Cameron Smith has also been named in what will be his 36th consecutive Test match, breaking the record held by rugby league immortal Clive Churchill. The Test also marks the return of Josh Mansour to the international arena, almost one year after tearing his ACL during the Kangaroos’ Four Nations tournament last year.

The Penrith star has been given permission to break camp this week to attend the birth of his first child, however is a certain starter at GIO Stadium. Josh McGuire has been given first crack at the No. 13 jumper following a tournament-ending pectoral injury to Jake Trbojevic suffered against England. Cooper Cronk, Dane Gagai, Valentine Holmes, Boyd Cordner, Matt Gillett have been rested, while Ben Hunt is the only member of the original 24-man squad not to play.

The St George Illawarra recruit has been granted leave to attend his wedding this week.

— AAP

RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP WEEK TWO TEAMS

FRIDAY

AUSTRALIA v FRANCE

at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 8pm (AEDT)

Australia: 1 Billy Slater 2 Tom Trbojevic 3 Will Chambers 4 Josh Dugan 5 Josh Mansour 6 Michael Morgan 7 James Maloney 8 Jordan McLean 9 Cameron Smith (c) 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11 Wade Graham 12 Tyson Frizell 13 Josh McGuire 14 Cameron Munster 15 Felise Kaufusi 16 Aaron Woods 17 David Klemmer 18 Valentine Holmes 19 Matt Gillett 20 Boyd Cordner 21 Dane Gagai

Mal Meninga has made wholesale changes to his side against France. Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic will make his Kangaroos debut on the wing with Dane Gagai rested. Josh Mansour also comes into the team on the opposite side of the field with Valentime Holmes named on the extended bench. Cooper Cronk has been rested with James Maloney to start at halfback. Up front Jordan McLean and Reagan Campbell-Gillard will start ahead of first-choice pair Aaron Woods and David Klemmer.

France: 1 Mark Kheirallah 2 Fouad Yaha 3 Bastien Ader 4 Olivier Arnaud 5 Ilias Bergal 6 Remy Marginet 7 Theo Fages (c) 8 Maxime Herold 9 Eloi Pelissier 10 Julian Bousquet 11 Benjamin Garcia 12 Benjamin Jullien 13 Jason Baitieri 14 Thibault Margalet 15 Mickael Rouch 16 Romain Navarrete 17 John Boudebza 18 Lucas Albert 19 Antonio Maria 20 Nabil Djalout 21 Lambert Belmas

Captain Theo Fages will start at halfback with Remy Marginet coming into the side at five-eighth. In the centres, Olivier Arnaud comes in for Damien Cardace.

Tom Trbojevic will make his Test debt. Pic: 2017 NRL Photos 2017

SATURDAY

NEW ZEALAND v SCOTLAND

at Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, 3pm (AEDT)

New Zealand:

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Jason Nightingale 3. Dean Whare 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Peta Hiku 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Martin Taupau 9. Elijah Taylor 10. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 11. Kenny Bromwich 12. Joseph Tapine 13. Adam Blair 14. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 15. Russell Packer 16. Addin Fonua-Blake 17. Danny Levi 18. Thomas Leuluai 19. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 20. Simon Mannering 21. Jordan Rapana

* Shaun Johnson will have a new partner in the halves, with Te Maire Martin to wear the No. 6 jersey as New Zealand reshapes its backline.

Jason Nightingale, Peta Hiku and Dean Whare all get starts, while Addin Fonua- Blake is set to earn his first Kiwis cap coming off the bench. In the forwards, Kenny Bromwich is fit and rearing to go in the back row, while Elijah Taylor will start at hooker.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Russell Packer and Danny Levi will again provide spark off the bench.

Scotland: 1. Alex Walker 2. Lewis Tierney 3. Ben Hellewell 4. Lachlan Stein 5. Matthew Russell 6. Danny Brough 7. Oscar Thomas 8. Luke Douglas 9. Danny Addy 10. Ben Kavanagh 11. Jarred Anderson 12. Dale Ferguson 13. James Bell INTERCHANGE 14. Kane Bentley 15. Sam Brooks 16. Brandan Wilkinson 17. Johnny Walker RESERVES 18. Andrew Bentley 19. Callum Phillips 20. Shane Toal 21. Frankie Mariano

Lewis Tierney shifts to the wing with Alex Walker coming into the side at fullback with Will Oakes making way. Oscar Thomas will start at halfback, replacing Danny Addy who moves into the hooking role.

Te Maire Martin will start in the halves.

SAMOA v TONGA

at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 5.30pm (AEDT)

Samoa: 1 Young TONUMAIPEA 2 Ricky LEUTELE 3 Timoteo LAFAI 4 Joseph LEILUA 5 Ken MAUMALO 6 Joseph PAULO 7 Ben ROBERTS 8 Junior PAULO 9 Jazz TEVAGA 10 Herman ESE’ESE 11 Joshua PAPALII 12 Frank PRITCHARD (c) 13 Leeson AH MAU 14 Fa’amanu BROWN 15 Zane MUSGROVE 16 Sam LISONE 17 Bunty AFOA 18 Sam TAGATAESE 19 Frank WINTERSTEIN 20 Jarome LUAI 21 Matthew WRIGHT

The Samoans have been forced to make a change with Peter Mata’utia out with a quad injury. Ricky Leutele has been named as his replacement on the wing. Fa’amanu Brown has been named on the bench after missing out last week.

Tonga: 1. Will Hopoate 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Solomone Kata 5. David Fusitu’a 6. Tuimoala Lolohea 7. Ata Hingano 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Siliva Havilli 10. Sio Siua Taukieaho 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Sika Manu © 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Sione Katoa 15. Sam Moa 16. Peni Terepo 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila 18. Ukuma Ta’ai 19. Manu Vatuvei 20. Konrad Hurrell 21. Samisoni Langi

Tonga have made two changes in the backline with Konrad Hurrell and Manu Vatuvei dropping to the extended bench for Warriors pair Solomone Kata and David Fusitu’a.

Solomone Kata comes into the Tongan side in the centres.

ENGLAND v LEBANON

at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, 8pm (AEDT)

England: 1. Jonny Lomax 2. Jermaine McGillvary 3. Kallum Watkins 4. John Bateman 5. Ryan Hall 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Luke Gale 8. Chris Hill 9. Josh Hodgson 10. James Graham 11. Ben Currie 12. Elliot Whitehead 13. Sean O’Loughlin. Interchange: 14. Alex Walmsley 15. Chris Heighington 16. Thomas Burgess 17. James Roby 18. George Williams 19. Mike McMeeken 20. Mark Percival 21. Stefan Ratchford.

Sam Burgess is out with a knee injury and has been replaced in the starting side by Ben Currie. Currie was called upon last week as 18th man after forward Alex Walmsley was a late withdrawal with illness. Walmsley has overcome his virus and has been named on the bench. George Williams comes into the side as the new 18th man.

Lebanon:

1. Daniel Abou-Sleiman (Newtown Jets) 2. Travis Robinson (Redfern All Blacks) 3. Bilal Maarbani (Manly-Warringah) 4. Adam Doueihi (South Sydney) 5. Abbas Miski (North Sydney)

6. Mitchell Moses (VC — Parramatta) 7. Robbie Farah (C — South Sydney) 8. Tim Mannah (Parramatta) 9. Michael Lichaa (Bulldogs) 10. Alex Twal (Wests Tigers) 11. Chris Saab (Guildford) 12. Ahmad Ellaz (Auburn Warriors) 13. Nick Kassis (Wentworthville Magpies) 14. Mitchell Mamary (Auburn Warriors) 15. Ray Moujalli (Canterbury Bulldogs) 16. Jamie Clark (Auburn Warriors) 17. Jason Wehbe (unattached) 18. Elias Sukkar (Auburn Warriors) 19. Anthony Layoun (Parramatta) 20. Andrew Kazzi (Wests Tigers) 21. James Elias (Wests Newcastle)

Daniel Abou-Sleiman has been named at fullback ahead of Anthony Layoun, who was named on the extended bench. James Elias makes way for Bilal Maarbani in the centres and Adam Doueihi has been promoted in the starting side ahead of Jason Wehbe, who drops to the bench.

Alex Walmsley has been named on the bench for England.

SUNDAY

PAPUA NEW GUINEA v IRELAND

at Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, 5pm (AEDT)

PNG: 1 David MEAD (c) 2 Justin OLAM 3 Kato OTTIO 4 Nene MACDONALD 5 Garry LO 6 Ase BOAS 7 Watson BOAS 8 Stanton ALBERT 9 Kurt BAPTISTE 10 Luke PAGE 11 Rhyse MARTIN 12 Willie MINOGA 13 Paul AITON 14 James SEGEYARO 15 Wellington ALBERT 16 Stargroth AMEAN 17 Enock MAKI 18 Moses MENINGA 19 Lachlan LAM 20 Nixon PUTT 21 Wartovo PUARA

The man who kept Kurt Baptiste and James Segeyaro on the bench, Wartovo Puara, has missed out on selection in the 17-man squad with Baptiste to start at number nine. Willie Minoga has been promoted from the bench into the backrow. Stargroth Amean and Wellington Albert have been called into the side after being named on the extended bench last weekend.

Ireland: 1 Scott GRIX 2 Shannon McDONNELL 3 Ed CHAMBERLAIN 4 Michael MORGAN 5 Liam KAY 6 Api PEWHAIRANGI 7 Liam FINN (c) 8 1 Brad SINGLETON 9 Michael MCILLORUM 10 Kyle AMOR 11 Louie McCARTHY-SCARSBROOK 12 Oliver ROBERTS 13 George KING 14 Tyrone MCCARTHY 15 James HASSON 16 Joe PHILBIN 17 Anthony MULLALY 18 Will HOPE 19 Joe KEYES 20 Matty HADDEN 21 Jack HIGGINSON

Ireland have named the same 17 that beat Italy 36-12 in Cairns.

Kurt Baptiste has been named to start at hooker.

ITALY v USA

at Townsville Stadium, Townsville, 5pm (AEDT)

Italy: 1 James TEDESCO 2 Mason CERRUTO 3 Justin CASTELLARO 4 Nathan MILONE 5 Josh MANTELLATO 6 Terry CAMPESE 7 Ryan GHIETTI 8 Paul VAUGHAN 9 Joseph TRAMONTANA 10 Daniel ALVARO 11 Joel RIETHMULLER 12 Mark MINICHIELLO (c) 13 Nathan BROWN 14 Christopher CENTRONE 15 Brendan SANTI 16 Shannon WAKEMAN 17 Jayden WALKER 18 Gavin HISCOX 19 Richard LEPORI 20 Christophe CALEGARI 21 Gioele CELERINO

Both James Tedesco and Shannon Wakeman have been named despite being involved in an altercation while in Cairns. Jack Johns, who is out of the tournament after breaking his arm against Ireland, he has been replaced by hooker Ryan Ghietti. Joseph Tramontana replaces Ghietti at no.9.

USA: 1 Corey MAKELIM 2 Ryan BURROUGHS 3 Junior VAIVAI 4 Jonathan ALLEY 5 Bureta FARAIMO 6 Kristian FREED 7 Tui SAMOA 8 Eddy PETTYBOURNE 9 David MARANDO 10 Mark OFFERDAHL (c) 11 Danny HOWARD 12 Matt SHIPWAY 13 Nicholas NEWLIN 14 Sam TOCHTERMAN-TALBOTT 15 Fotukava MALU 16 Steve HOWARD 17 Gabriel FARLEY 18 Charles CORTALANO 19 Joe EICHNER 20 David ULCH 21 Joshua RICE

Halfback Matthew Walsh has missed out on selection with Tui Samoa named to start. Andrew Kneisly loses his bench spot to Fotukava Malu.

James Tedesco has been named at fullback.

FIJI v WALES

at Townsville Stadium, Townsville, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Fiji: 1 Kevin NAIQAMA (c) 2 Suliasi VUNIVALU 3 Taane MILNE 4 Akuila UATE 5 Marcelo MONTOYA 6 Jarryd HAYNE 7 Henry RAIWALUI 8 Ashton SIMS 9 Apisai KOROISAU 10 Eloni VUNAKECE 11 Viliame KIKAU 12 Brayden WILIAME 13 Tui KAMIKAMICA 14 Joe LOVODUA 15 Jacob SAIFITI 16 Junior ROQICA 17 Ben NAKUBUWAI 18 James STORER 19 Pio SECI 20 Salesi FAINGAA 21 Sitiveni MOCEIDREKE

Kane Evans suffered a broken arm against the USA during week one and is out of the tournament. Eloni Vunakece replaces him in the starting frontrow.

Wales: 1 Elliot KEAR 2 Rhys WILLIAMS 3 Michael CHANNING 4 Christiaan ROETS 5 Regan GRACE 6 Courtney DAVIES 7 Danny ANSELL 8 Craig KOPCZAK (c) 9 Steve PARRY 10 Philip JOSEPH 11 Rhodri LLOYD 12 Joe BURKE 13 Morgan KNOWLES 14 Matty FOZARD 15 Matthew BARRON 16 Ben EVANS 17 Dalton GRANT 18 Josh RALPH 19 Ben MORRIS 20 Gavin BENNION 21 Andrew GAY

Christiaan Roets replaces Andrew Grey in the backline. At halfback Danny Ansell has been named ahead of Matt Seamark. In the backrow Joe Burke replaces Ben Morris.

Originally published as Rugby League World Cup: Teams for week two fixtures