Raging battle

LONDON: There has been a sense of inevitability from the first whistle at the Rugby League World Cup that heavyweights Australia and New Zealand would meet in the semifinal, although someone forgot to tell Fiji, who very nearly spoiled the party.
The Bati pushed the Kiwis to the absolute limit in an epic quarterfinal in Hull before the 2008 champions prevailed 24-18 while Australia had an easier passage in their 48-4 win over Lebanon.
That form guide goes out the window tomorrow morning (5.45am kickoff) when the two rugby league powerhouses square off for the 16th time at a World Cup, looking to win their way through to the decider against England or Samoa at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Both sides are stacked with superstars, both sides know what it takes to win big games on the big stage, although the Kangaroos hold a 14-1 advantage in World Cup clashes between the two nations.
The Kiwis may well be more battle hardened having been taken to the wire by the brave Bati and they would love nothing better than to send the defending champions packing.
The Kangaroos were below their best against the Cedars but coach Mal Meninga will have fine tuned his combinations and have his men ready to peak for their most important match since the 2017 World Cup final.
Kangaroos prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard is back after missing the quarterfinal win over Lebanon with a cork. Lindsay Collins makes way.
The experienced utility Ben Hunt also returns as part of the squad with the Dragons captain replacing Campbell Graham in the only other change for Australia.
Kangaroos skipper James Tedesco sat out the second half against the Cedars as a precaution after copping a cork to his lower thigh but he will be right to go.
Meanwhile, Kiwis forward Moses Leota comes into the squad at the expense of fellow Panther Scott Sorensen.
Leota is set make just his second World Cup appearance due to groin and pectoral injuries.
Veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has served his one-game suspension for a high tackle but is still battling a hamstring injury and will only play again if the Kiwis make the final and winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returns from a calf strain.
“It’s definitely been a tough decision for Jared but he wouldn’t have been right for this week. He trained really hard today and had another great session but we are planning for what’s ahead,” New Zealand coach Michael Maguire said.
Cameron Munster sits on top of the try assist tally with eight in his three games while Daly Cherry-Evans is also high on the list with six try assists. The best of the Kiwis is Brandon Smith with five. Roosters superstars Joseph Manu and James Tedesco are first and second for tackle breaks at the World Cup.
Manu has busted 53 tackles in four games for the Kiwis while Tedesco has 39 in four games for the Kangaroos.
Josh Addo-Carr has 11 tries to his name so far at this year’s World Cup, putting him just one away from teammate Valentine Holmes for the most tries scored by a player at a single edition of the tournament. Holmes set the current record of 12 tries during Australia’s 2017 World Cup campaign.
– NRL.com