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Cardiff: Midway through 2011 Andrew Fifita was unwanted and even he doubted he would be good enough to represent Australia.
Now the Cronulla prop has continued his rapid rise by being named as the only debutant in Australia's opening World Cup team to play England on Sunday morning.
Fifita will start from the interchange bench in a squad which features 13 players who played in Australia's 32-12 win against New Zealand earlier this year.
Nate Myles was the only player available for selection from the mid-year Test who will not play.
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Players from grand finalists Sydney Roosters and Manly have been overlooked for selection while Brent Tate clinched the centre spot vacated by Justin Hodges ahead of NSW centre pairing Michael Jennings and Josh Morris.
While Tate will play his first Test since 2010 it was Fifita who smiled the most as the team completed a training session in wet conditions at the University of Glamorgan in Wales.
Fifita's rise has been swift. He was let go by Australian coach Tim Sheens during his time at the Wests Tigers, before linking with Cronulla last year.
He made his Origin debut, playing all three games for NSW this year and with his contract expiring at the Sharks next year is among the most sought after players in the NRL.
“I didn't think I had it in me,” Fifita said. “Guys like Matt Scott and Jimmy Tamou are tremendous players.
“I had a couple of good games at club footy and that got me a look in at Origin and I tried so hard just to stay up there. It's really given me the strength to play more rep games.”
Sheens has opted for an agile side as the team prepares to confront a forward dominated English team led by James Graham, Sam Burgess and Lee Mossop.
Fifita is the only prop on the interchange bench with Corey Parker to play his second Test. NSW captain Paul Gallen has been named at lock but will spend time up front.
Fifita, who is slowly overcoming the flu, skipped his honeymoon after marrying Nikkita just one day before flying out with the Kangaroos squad, leaving the couples young baby at home.
“Now she is proud of me,” Fifita said. “If I had come over here with a crap attitude and didn't get selected she would have been devastated and upset.
“When I made that phone call that I would be making my Test debut, she was that happy.”
The 24-year-old struggled to play it cool when Sheens announced the team to the touring squad.
“He pulled us all together just before training and yelled out the team,” Fifita said. “When he yelled out my name, I was that happy. I just sat there saying 'yep, yep, yep'. I didn't smile but I was really happy.
“I was that stoked, but I had to try and keep it under cover, I wanted to scream but I didn't.”
Australia: Team: Billy Slater, Brett Morris, Greg Inglis, Brent Tate, Darius Boyd, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matthew Scott, Cameron Smith ©, James Tamou, Greg Bird, Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Andrew Fifita, Luke Lewis, _Robbie Farah_, Corey Parker
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/andrew-fifita-the-only-new-face-in-kangaroos-side-to-face-england-in-world-cup-opener-20131023-2w1y9.html#ixzz2ibztzfrK
Now the Cronulla prop has continued his rapid rise by being named as the only debutant in Australia's opening World Cup team to play England on Sunday morning.
Fifita will start from the interchange bench in a squad which features 13 players who played in Australia's 32-12 win against New Zealand earlier this year.
Nate Myles was the only player available for selection from the mid-year Test who will not play.
Advertisement
Players from grand finalists Sydney Roosters and Manly have been overlooked for selection while Brent Tate clinched the centre spot vacated by Justin Hodges ahead of NSW centre pairing Michael Jennings and Josh Morris.
While Tate will play his first Test since 2010 it was Fifita who smiled the most as the team completed a training session in wet conditions at the University of Glamorgan in Wales.
Fifita's rise has been swift. He was let go by Australian coach Tim Sheens during his time at the Wests Tigers, before linking with Cronulla last year.
He made his Origin debut, playing all three games for NSW this year and with his contract expiring at the Sharks next year is among the most sought after players in the NRL.
“I didn't think I had it in me,” Fifita said. “Guys like Matt Scott and Jimmy Tamou are tremendous players.
“I had a couple of good games at club footy and that got me a look in at Origin and I tried so hard just to stay up there. It's really given me the strength to play more rep games.”
Sheens has opted for an agile side as the team prepares to confront a forward dominated English team led by James Graham, Sam Burgess and Lee Mossop.
Fifita is the only prop on the interchange bench with Corey Parker to play his second Test. NSW captain Paul Gallen has been named at lock but will spend time up front.
Fifita, who is slowly overcoming the flu, skipped his honeymoon after marrying Nikkita just one day before flying out with the Kangaroos squad, leaving the couples young baby at home.
“Now she is proud of me,” Fifita said. “If I had come over here with a crap attitude and didn't get selected she would have been devastated and upset.
“When I made that phone call that I would be making my Test debut, she was that happy.”
The 24-year-old struggled to play it cool when Sheens announced the team to the touring squad.
“He pulled us all together just before training and yelled out the team,” Fifita said. “When he yelled out my name, I was that happy. I just sat there saying 'yep, yep, yep'. I didn't smile but I was really happy.
“I was that stoked, but I had to try and keep it under cover, I wanted to scream but I didn't.”
Australia: Team: Billy Slater, Brett Morris, Greg Inglis, Brent Tate, Darius Boyd, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matthew Scott, Cameron Smith ©, James Tamou, Greg Bird, Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Andrew Fifita, Luke Lewis, _Robbie Farah_, Corey Parker
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/andrew-fifita-the-only-new-face-in-kangaroos-side-to-face-england-in-world-cup-opener-20131023-2w1y9.html#ixzz2ibztzfrK
