RLWC2021 – Australia v New Zealand: Team news, how to watch on TV & predictions

Josh McAllister
Australia v New Zealand

Everything you need to know – Australia v New Zealand.

Australia and New Zealand meet in the first semi-final of the World Cup on Friday night, with only one spot up for grabs in a place in the final next Saturday at Old Trafford.

Both sides are undefeated so far in the campaign, having won all of their group games. Australia defeated Lebanon 48-4 in Huddersfield in the quarter-finals, while New Zealand came from behind to defeat Fiji 24-18 in Hull.

Match details

  • Australia v New Zealand
  • Date: Friday 11th November
  • Kick-off time: 7:45pm
  • Venue: Elland Road, Leeds
  • Semi-finals

Australia v New Zealand

New Zealand 19-man squad: 1. Joseph Manu, 2. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 4. Peta Hiku, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Dylan Brown, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Brandon Smith, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Kenny Bromwich, 13. Joseph Tapine, 14. Kieran Foran, 15. Moses Leota, 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 17. Briton Nikora, 19. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 20. Isaac Liu, 21. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

Australia 19-man 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, 10. Jack Wighton, 24. Isaah Yeo.

What the two camps are saying

Australia head coach Mal Meninga said: “Once again it has been extremely difficult to leave out players who have performed very well in our colours.

“This is our most important game of the World Cup for us and a great challenge against the calibre of the New Zealand side.

“I am happy with our performances so far, but we all know we need to improve.”

New Zealand boss Michael Maguire said: “I’m looking forward to this week. The eyes have always been on getting though and getting to the semis. We’re here now and that’s the biggest thing we need to concentrate on.”

How can I watch the game on TV?

Every game across the men’s, women’s and wheelchair World Cup tournaments is being broadcast by the BBC.

Australia v New Zealand will be on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. 

READ: How to watch every Rugby League World Cup game on the BBC

Odds and predictions

Australia go into this one as favourites with Planet Sport Bet, despite New Zealand’s international ranking of #1. The Kangaroos are priced at 2/9, with New Zealand as big as 7/2.

It’s a tough one to predict, with two of the best teams in the world going head-to-head. However, I’ll go with Australia on this occasion. New Zealand will have to improve a lot from their close win over Fiji in the quarter-finals last weekend, having found themselves behind for the majority of the match.

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