Stuart names injured Kangaroos for World Cup final

rugbyleaguelive.com | 19/11/08 | 0

Australian coach Ricky Stuart has named an unchanged line-up for Saturday's World Cup decider against New Zealand despite doubts surrounding the fitness of three strike players.

Winger Brent Tate was helped from the field after suffering a painful hip injury during the Kangaroos' semi-final win over Fiji on Sunday night, while lock Paul Gallen is carrying a thigh injury.

The pair sat out the teams' Brisbane training session yesterday, while utility Karmichael Hunt was suffering from a badly bruised knee cap.

New Zealand officials have also kept the faith with the starting team which took down England in Saturday's semi-final, and Australian hooker Cameron Smith admits they pose threats across the park.

"There are dangers all over the park from the Kiwi team," Smith told News Ltd, pointing the finger specifically at five-eighth Benji Marshall.

"They're a lot stronger than what we saw in the first game.

"They've improved as the tournament has gone along. You only have to look back a few years where everyone said Australia was going to be unbeatable and there's not a side in the world that can beat them and they got touched up 24-0.

"So we're very aware that although we've beaten them once in this tournament it's going to be a totally different story this Saturday.

"We're expecting Benji to have another A grade game against us. He's certainly a bloke we need to watch out for."

Kangaroos team to play New Zealand in the World Cup Final at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, November 22nd.

Fullback: Billy Slater
Winger: Joel Monaghan
Centre: Greg Inglis
Centre: Israel Folau
Winger: Brent Tate
Five Eighth: Darren Lockyer ©
Half Back: Johnathan Thurston
Prop: Petero Civoniceva
Hooker: Cameron Smith
Prop: Steve Price
Second Row: Glenn Stewart
Second Row: Anthony Laffranchi
Lock: Paul Gallen

Interchange: Karmichael Hunt
Interchange: Craig Fitzgibbon
Interchange: Anthony Tupou
Interchange: Brent Kite

Meanwhile, betting agencies continue to hold the Kangaroos as almost-unbackable $1.11 favourites for the clash, with Australia giving away a 16.5 point start in margins betting.

TAB Sportsbet has the Kiwis posted at $6 outsiders.

This match is the third time the sides have met this year with Australia winning the Anzac Test 28-12 and their World Cup match 30-6 earlier in the tournament. In these matches New Zealand were alloted 16.5 points start on both occasions.

RESULT

6118 Australia 1.11
6119 New Zealand  6.00

LINE

6120 Australia  -18.51.90
6121 New Zealand +18.5  1.90

80 MIN MARGIN

6138 Australia 13+1.50
6139 Australia 1-12  3.60
6140 Draw41.00
6141 N Zealand 1-12  8.00
6142 N Zealand 13+19.00

We're expecting Benji to have another A grade game against us. He's certainly a bloke we need to watch out for... Cameron Smith, Kangaroos hooker