Papali'i in Kiwis' squad for England Test
New Zealand coach Michael Maguire has brought uncapped back-row forward Isaiah Papali'i into a 20-man squad for the third Test against England at Elland Road on Sunday.
The 20-year-old New Zealand Warrior played for Samoa against Tonga earlier this year but is set to win his first cap for the Kiwis in place of Marty Taupau, who is dropped after appearing in the first two Tests.
Maguire will not confirm his line-up until 90 minutes before kick-off but utility back Gerard Beale and Brisbane winger Jamayne Isaako are vying to replace Jordan Rapana, who has flown back to Australia after dislocating a shoulder in the Kiwis' 20-14 defeat at Anfield last Sunday.
Beale's last Test appearance was in the opening round of the 2017 World Cup against Samoa while Isaako made his debut in the Kiwis' 36-18 defeat by England in Denver in June.
Veteran forward Adam Blair, 32, is set to edge closer to becoming only the eighth player in history to play 50 or more Tests as he lines up a 48th cap, as New Zealand aim to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash.
Squad: D Watene-Zelezniak (Penrith, capt), L Ah Mau (St George Illawarra), G Beale (NZ Warriors), A Blair (NZ Warriors), J Bromwich (Melbourne), K Bromwich (Melbourne), J Fisher-Harris (Penrith), J Hughes (Melbourne), J Isaako (Brisbane), S Johnson (NZ Warriors), I Liu (Sydney Roosters) J Manu (Sydney Roosters), E Marsters (Wests Tigers), K Maumalo (NZ Warriors), K Nikorima (Brisbane), I Papali'i (NZ Warriors), K Proctor (Gold Coast), B Smith (Melbourne), J Tapine (Canberra), J Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters).
