RLWC semi-final, Australia v New Zealand: Kangaroos team news, Reagan Campbell-Gillard selected
Reagan Campbell Gillard has been tasked with the toughest job in rugby league – containing the Kiwi front row as coach Mal Meninga makes major changes to his best 17.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard has been recalled to the Kangaroos alongside Ben Hunt as Australia brace for an all-out assault from the Kiwis’ big man in Saturday morning’s (AEDT) sudden-death World Cup semi-final in Leeds.
Coach Mal Meninga named an 19-man squad in alphabetical order on Thursday afternoon (AEDT) but Campbell-Gillard is expected to make the final cut alongside the recalled Hunt.
It means there was no place in the squad for Lindsay Collins, while Daly Cherry-Evans will lose his place on the interchange bench as Meninga looks to rotate Hunt with Grant in the hooking position against the world’s No. 1 ranked side.
Australian players are under no illusions about what is coming their way at Elland Road as they brace for New Zealand to play a physical game based around their size advantage in the forward pack.
Collins was omitted from the squad but will play an important role regardless after being enlisted to help Australia prepare for the threat of Kiwi giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Collins was a prominent figure at training on Tuesday night (AEDT) as he was one of two players to wear a yellow bib in the opposed session. The other alternated among different players.
It is understood Collins was enlisted to play the role of Asofa-Solomona as the Kangaroos attempt to build a game plan designed to take advantage of the Melbourne Storm giant.
Asofa-Solomona has been one of the most damaging players at the World Cup, playing on the edge and in the middle. Curbing his attack and then exploiting him in defence could be the key to Australia qualifying for the World Cup final.
“It is going to be pretty physical,” Hunt said.
“I am thinking of it as like an Origin game. It is going to be very physical and we have to dominate their forward pack.
“They are obviously really big and if we want to win, I think that is where it is won.”
Asked what Campbell-Gillard brought to the side, Hunt said: “A lot of experience and a real hard nose in the middle. He is straight up and down Reg – he runs hard, he tackles hard, he can play big minutes.
“I think he is a guy who deserves to be back in the side.”
Importantly, he adds size in the middle of the field as the Kangaroos prepare for the Kiwis to try to dominate the trenches in their search for a win.
JWH HAMSTRUNG AHEAD OF SEMIS
Moses Leota is back but there was no place in the New Zealand side for Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as coach Michael Maguire named his 17 for Saturday morning’s (AEDT) World Cup semifinal against Australia.
Waerea-Hargreaves missed the Kiwis quarterfinal win over Papua New Guinea through suspension after being banned for what Ireland coach Ged Corcoran labeled a “dog shot”.
It may surprisingly prove to be one of his final acts in a New Zealand jersey.
Maguire said Waerea-Hargreaves was unavailable to play against Australia due to a hamstring injury and was hoping to be fit for the final if the Kiwis made it that far, as he recalled Leota and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak for the trans-Tasman grudge match.
Earlier, Kangaroos utility Ben Hunt made it clear this week that he expected Waerea-Hargreaves to win an instant recall for the semifinal.
“Jared is a fantastic player and a real leader for their team,” Ben Hunt said before the Kiwi team was named.
“He is emotional, he really gets them going, fires them boys up. I would be really surprised if he wasn’t in the team. He has played in a lot of big games before. By missing a game, I think he will come in prepared and ready for a big one.”
Apart from Waerea-Hargreaves, Scott Sorensen, Marata Niukore, Jeremy Marshall and Sebastian Kris were also omitted.
AUSTRALIAN SQUAD
9. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 13. Pat Carrigan, 2. Daly Cherry-Evans, 14. Nathan Cleary, 16. Reuben Cotter, 17. Angus Crichton, 18. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 20. Harry Grant, 4. Valentine Holmes, 3. Ben Hunt, 21. Liam Martin, 8. Latrell Mitchell, 7. Cameron Munster, 11. Cameron Murray, 1. James Tedesco (c), 5. Jake Trboevic, 10. Jack Wighton, 24. Isaah Yeo (v-c)
WORLD CUP: KIWIS SNUB ADDS FUEL TO KANGAROOS CLASH
– By Brent Read
New Zealand have been handed some added motivation heading into their semi-final against Australia after it emerged that tournament organisers had booked the Kiwis on a flight home directly after the game.
News Corp understands that to ensure the World Cup had enough flights pre-booked, organisers were forced to predict how they thought the tournament would pan out and reserve flights accordingly.
They safely forecast that Australia and New Zealand would play in one semi-final, but that’s where things get interesting.
Forced to choose a winner between the Kangaroos and Kiwis, they plumped for lower-ranked Australia and reserved flights for New Zealand in the 24 hours after Saturday morning’s (AEDT) game, to be played at Elland Road.
In doing so, they have handed Kiwis coach Michael Maguire some extra ammunition for his players heading into their sudden-death game at the weekend.
The Kiwis will go into the trans-Tasman grudge match as underdogs despite remarkably being ranked higher than the Kangaroos heading into the tournament.
Australian players did their best to play down talk about the rankings system and Kiwis prop James Fisher-Harris has now entered the discussion, sarcastically suggesting the Kangaroos remain the team to beat.
“They are the reigning champs – whatever that means,” Fisher-Harris said.
“They all mostly play [State of] Origin. It’s the pinnacle and everything. So it must be the greatest team.
“I don’t know why we are No.1. We haven’t won anything. They are the best. So you want to play against the best. You have to beat the best, to be the best.”
Asked whether he would target his Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary, Fisher-Harris said: “He is the best halfback in the comp – in the world.
“It is going to be pretty hard to limit what he does. I am sure he will have protection around him. Their whole team is pretty good. I am pretty excited to verse Oz.
“Best team.”
Fisher-Harris and Cleary aren’t the only current or former teammates locking horns. Melbourne hooker Harry Grant will directly oppose former Storm teammate Brandon Smith on Saturday morning (AEDT – the pair battled it out for the Melbourne No. 9 jersey for years, now they are fighting for World Cup supremacy.
“Obviously we are great mates,” Grant said.
“You have to chase the opportunities you get. He has a great opportunity for himself and his family [at the Sydney Roosters].
“No-one can hold anything against him given what he has done for me as a player and Melbourne as a club.
“Me and Brandon we were pretty easygoing in terms of we were pretty happy to wait our time. I think it worked well over the last couple of years.
“I wish he was still at the Storm.”
Grant insisted friendships were put on the backburner during the tournament.
“Everyone is mates and you talk during the tournament.,” Grant said.
“But when you pull on the green and gold jersey you know who you are playing for – you are playing for Australia.
“Obviously everyone is going to have mates in the opposition, but like I said that goes out the window when you are playing for your country. You have bigger things to worry about.”
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