Bench ploy revealed for 'Origin like' World Cup clash

2 years ago 96

Kangaroos manager Mal Meninga volition commencement superstar hooker Harry Grant connected the seat for Saturday's blockbuster World Cup semi-final clash with New Zealand.

Meninga named a 19-player squad connected Wednesday evening, but had already confirmed earlier successful the week Daly Cherry-Evans would not marque the last line-up against the Kiwis.

Instead, Ben Hunt has been recalled and volition commencement astatine hooker, and the program is to power him retired for Grant erstwhile the rough-and-tumble opening stages of the crippled are over.

"I similar to start," Hunt told media.

"I hatred sitting connected the bench, sitting determination with nerves and can't contribute, truthful I'd overmuch alternatively beryllium retired there."

Hunt says this semi-final volition beryllium "like an Origin game" and believes the large men successful the mediate volition determine the result.

It's for this crushed that Reagan Campbell-Gillard has been recalled for Australia to commencement astatine prop.

The Kiwis boast a formidable guardant battalion including NRL enforcers Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Joseph Tapine, and antheral upland Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Two-metre gangly Asofa-Solomona is the subordinate who has Hunt connected edge.

"As a tiny player I ever get asked who's the hardest to defend, and (Asofa-Solomona) is ever successful my apical three," helium said.

"I'm beauteous fortunate successful this squad I've got immoderate bully defenders astir me."

The Aussies utilized Lindsay Collins - who volition not play the semi-final - arsenic an Asofa-Solomona fill-in during a grooming session, and had the Roosters prop moving astatine the playmakers.

The Kiwis are yet to sanction their team.

RLWC SEMI-FINAL

Kangaroos vs Kiwis, 6.45am (AEDT) Saturday

Kangaroos 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 (vc) 1. James Tedesco (c) 5. Jake Trbojevic 10. Jack Wighton 24. Isaah Yeo (vc)

Predicted team: 1. James Tedesco 9. Josh Addo-Carr 8. Latrell Mitchell 10. Jack Wighton 4. Valentine Holmes 7. Cameron Munster 14. Nathan Cleary 6. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 3. Ben Hunt 5. Jake Trbojevic 17. Angus Crichton 21. Liam Martin 24. Isaah Yeo (vc). (Interchange) 20. Harry Grant 13. Pat Carrigan 18. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11. Cameron Murray (vc)

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