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New-look Kangaroos look to impress against New Zealand

By Allsports.com.gh
Sports News New-look Kangaroos look to impress against New Zealand
OCT 23, 2014 LISTEN

In the Anzac Test in May, the Kangaroos overcame a slow start to extend their winning run over the Kiwis to eight Tests with a 30-18 win.

But Australia are missing an entire team of players including Dally M medallist Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater (shoulder), Darius Boyd (depression), Brett Morris (shoulder), Matt Scott (shoulder), Nate Myles (biceps), Paul Gallen (drugs ban) and James Tamou (neck).

Only six players - Greg Bird, Daly Cherry-Evans, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis, Corey Parker and skipper Cameron Smith are backing up from the Anzac Test.

New Zealand are boosted by the inclusion of gun Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo, who will make his Test debut.

Five-eighth Kieran Foran returns after missing the Anzac Test to join Shaun Johnson in a formidable halves combination.

Penrith youngster Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was also named but has since been ruled out with a broken foot.

It remains to be seen how the new-look Kangaroos team go.

Some of the veterans are still playing but Saturday is very much a preview to the future for Kangaroos fans while New Zealand might beat Australia for the first time in four years.

Australia hooker Robbie Farah said it was an opportunity for younger players to show their worth.

"Obviously the senior players in the squad are not going to be here forever," he said.

"There comes a time when the new blood comes in and gets a taste of it. This is that moment and they've been picked because they've been playing great footy at club level all year."

The Kangaroos have dominated the Kiwis in recent matches and Smith and Cronk are still there to lead the side around the park along with Cherry-Evans.

Inglis is playing full-back, has a major point to prove and could be the difference between the two sides.

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