Kangaroos name five changes

[Tigerdave]

By Andrew Bryan

NRL.com

Sun 14th April, 5:15pm

Kurt Gidley is set to play his first game for Australia since 2010 after being named on the bench to take on New Zealand at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.

Coach Tim Sheens today named five changes to the side that beat New Zealand 18-10 in Townsville in October last year, with Kangaroos regulars Justin Hodges, Luke Lewis, Anthony Watmough and Sam Thaiday returning to the side after missing through injury in 2012.

Canterbury’s Tony Williams missed out on selection, the gigantic second rower paying the price for a slow start to the year for the Bulldogs, while Melbourne’s Ryan Hoffman was forced out of the team, and David Shillington missed out through injury.

Gidley’s last game for the Kangaroos was in their 2010 Four Nations final loss to the Kiwis at Suncorp Stadium. A dislocated left shoulder forced Gidley out of the 2012 season, in which he could only manage five games.

But Gidley’s ability to cover multiple positions earned him the nod in front of Wests Tigers' Robbie Farah and Manly Sea Eagles' Daly Cherry-Evans, who have previously filled the utility role.

The match should prove to be a good testing ground for both teams with a World Cup in England looming at the end of the season. New Zealand are the reigning World Cup champions, while Australia are the current Four Nations Champions.

The Australian team will come into camp on Sunday night in Coogee and will have a light training run on Monday morning before travelling to Canberra to begin preparations for Friday’s clash.

Australia side named on Sunday by Tim Sheens.

1 Billy Slater

2 Darius Boyd

3 Greg Inglis

4 Justin Hodges

5 Brett Morris

6 Johnathan Thurston

7 Cooper Cronk

8 Matt Scott

9 Cameron Smith ©

10 James Tamou

11 Greg Bird

12 Sam Thaiday

13 Paul Gallen

14 Kurt Gidley

15 Nate Myles

16 Luke Lewis

17 Anthony Watmough

18 Josh Morris

http://www.nrl.com/kangaroos-name-five-changes/tabid/10874/newsid/71738/default.aspx
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Robbie lost his spot

 

[WestsSupporter]

lol gidley is so average.

 

[happy_tiger]

Got to love Sheens bench

1 prop /second rower

2 Utility players

1 second rower

How about Tim

2 props

1 prop /second rower

1 utility player
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We will lose the World Cup with Sheens in charge

 

[stryker]

Sheens is an idiot when it comes to selecting a bench…he will push Thaiday and Gallen up to prop. Never selects people in their correct positions and hates specialist props.

That said, that side will flog the kiwis so he won't cop any heat.

 

[avocadoontoast]

That is such a stupid team. Boyd? Gidley? Gallen? Bird?

Not a team picked on form. What a joke.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Sheens doesnt pick the team…

That bench would have to be one of the worst I have seen in 20 years... Robbie & Shillington are very unlucky to not be named!

 

[tig_prmz]

shillington's injured

typical sheens bench.. can see a typical sheens use of bench as well.
glad we got rid of him.. was at a point where i was gonna stop supporting RL altogether if this guy was still at the club

smith and thurston to carry us over the line

 

[Flippedy]

New Zealand have got so many players unavailable for selection, Sheens & co could have chosen 4 wingers on the bench and Australia will still win.

 

[WestsSupporter]

and not a single prop was seen that day

 

[kh_canada]

Boyd, who plays fullback at wing? 18th man Josh Morris? Where does he get this crap from?