RLWC teams: Walters makes brutal calls as Roos experiment ends

Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has recalled Reece Walsh to the starting line up at fullback for Australia’s third and final pool game against the Cook Islands on Saturday, with the big selection call coming at the expense of Clive Churchill Medallist James Tedesco.

Walsh’s return coincides with the inclusions of several other first choice stars, including captain Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and gun five-eighth Cameron Munster.

Sam Walker is a notable omission and shifts to the reserves, with Walters opting for Tom Dearden to partner Munster in a revamped halves pairing, the third combination of the World Cup.

After surviving an almighty scare in a 36-22 victory over Fiji in Brisbane last week, Walters abandoned his experimental approach to selection, picking the team that he believes is the best line-up available.

It’s a particularly harsh assessment on Tedesco, who drops to the interchange bench to accommodate Walsh’s return, while David Fifita, Latrell Mitchell and Blayke Brailey also fall out of the squad for the Kangaroos’ final pool clash.

“There has been a lot of positives in what the team has produced in the tournament so far against some strong opposition, but we are looking to build on that with an 80-minute performance on Saturday night,” said Walters.

“We know that anyone we come up against is going to rise to the occasion of playing the Kangaroos, but we will continue focussing on our own game and building towards the knock-out stage of the tournament.”

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Friday

England vs Samoa women (5:45pm, WIN Stadium, Wollongong)

England: To come.

Samoa: To come.

England vs Papua New Guinea men (8:05pm, WIN Stadium, Wollongong)

England: AJ Brimson, Dominic Young, Hugo Savala, Herbie Farnworth, Matty Ashton, George Williams, Harry Smith, Max King, Jez Litten, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Kai Pearce-Paul, Morgan Knowles, Mikey Lewis, Sam Walters, Ethan Havard, Victor Radley, Ben Currie, Jack Welsby, Brad O’Neill, Zach Eckersley, Kallum Watkins

Papua New Guinea: Zac Laybutt, Robert Derby, Josh Feledy, Nene Macdonald, Dudley Dotoi, Gairo Voro, Bailey Biondi-Odo, Epel Kapinias, Edwin Ipape, Luca Moretti, Rhyse Martin, Nixon Putt, Liam Horne, Finley Glare, Jacob Taulani, Robert Mathias, Sanny Wabo, Valentine Richard, Zev John,Morea Morea, Rodrick Tai,Alex Max

Saturday

Fiji vs France women (1:20pm, Cbus Stadium, Gold Coast)

Fiji: To come.

France: To come.

New Zealand vs Fiji men (3:30pm, Cbus Stadium, Gold Coast)

New Zealand: 1. Keano Kini, 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Dane Gagai 4. Casey McLean 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. James Fisher-Harris (c) 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Moses Leota 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Briton Nikora 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Erin Clark 17. Xavier Willison 18. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 19. Scott Sorensen 20. Leo Thompson 21. Jacob Laban 22. Tanner Stowers-Smith

Fiji: 1. Sunia Turuva 2. Ronald Philitoga 3. Waqa Blake 4. Solomone Saukuru 5. Semi Valemei 6. Kurt Donoghoe 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Apisai Koroisau (c) 10. Emosi Ravosai 11. Taane Milne 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Caleb Navale 14. Josese Lanyon 15. Elijah Keung 16. Jordan Miller 17. Joseph Litidamu 18. Jordin Leiu 19. Apenisa Driti 20. Zion Johnson 21. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 22. Kylan Mafoa

New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea women (5:45pm, Cbus Stadium, Gold Coast)

New Zealand: To come.

Papua New Guinea: To come.

Australia vs Cook Islands men (8:05pm, Country Bank Stadium, Townsville)

Australia: Reece Walsh, Jack Bostock, Kotoni Staggs, Bradman Best, Tom Trbojevic, Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden, Patrick Carrigan, Harry Grant, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Jacob Preston, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo, Ethan Strange, Keaon Koloamatangi, Cameron Murray, Reuben Cotter, Lindsay Smith, James Tedesco, Sam Walker, Latrell Mitchell, David Fifita, Blayke Brailey

Cook Islands: 1. Valentine Holmes 2. Paul Ulberg 3. KL Iro (c) 4. Reubenn Rennie 5. Cameron Brown 6. Maui Winitana-Patelesio 8. Davvy Moale 9. Ruatapu Ngatikaura 10. Rhys Dakin 11. Amare Milford 12. Delahia Wigmore 13. Mason Teague 17. Brad Takairangi 7. Esan Marsters 14. K-Ci Newton-Whare 15. Makahesi Makatoa 16. David Tuariki 18. Chaev Kolone 19. Glassie Glassie 20. Brody Tamarua 21. Pride Petterson-Robati 22. Esom Ioka 23. Reuben Porter

Sunday

Australia vs Wales women (3:40pm, Commbank Stadium, Sydney)

Australia: Tamika Upton, Jaime Chapman, Isabelle Kelly, Jessica Sergis, Abbi Church, Jesse Southwell, Tarryn Aiken, Ellie Johnston, Quincy Dodd, Makenzie Weale, Kezie Apps, Sariah Paki, Olivia Kernick, Keeley Nizza, Keilee Joseph, Sarah Togatuki, Tiana Penitani Gray, Shaylee Bent, Olivia Higgins, Millie Elliott, Jocelyn Kelleher, Sheridan Gallagher

Wales: To come.

Lebanon vs France men (5:40pm, Commbank Stadium, Sydney)

Lebanon: 1. Jacob Kiraz 2. Tony Francis 3. Michael Gabrael 4. Jordan Samrani 5. Jason Saab 6. Joseph Nohra 7. Alex Conti 8. Jaxson Rahme 9. Moustafa Dirani 10. James Roumanos 11. Tony Sukkar 12. Abbas Miski 13. Alex Twal (c) 14. Yehya Ayache 15. Tupou Francis 16. Jalal Bazzaz 17. Khalil Rahme 18. Shadi Hammoud 19. Mikael Ibrahim 20. Ibrahim El Labban 21. Cameron Kanaan 22. Mohamed Alameddine

France: 1. Arthur Mourgue 2. Léo Darrelatour 3. Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet 4. Roméo Tropis 5. Benjamin Laguerre 7. Thomas Lacans 8. Romain Navarrete 9. Alrix Da Costa 10. Julian Bousquet 11. Mathieu Cozza 12. Mathieu Jussaume 13. Benjamin Garcia (c) 14. Amir Bourouh 15. Lambert Belmas 16. Jordan Dezaria 17. Jowasa Drodrolagi 18. Théo Fages 19. Fouad Yaha 20. Tiaki Chan 21. Louis Grossemy 22. Arthur Romano

Tonga vs Samoa men (8:05pm, Commbank Stadium, Sydney)

Tonga: 1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Robert Toia 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Tuimoala Lolohea 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Salesi Foketi 10. Jason Taumalolo (c) 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Siua Wong 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Soni Luke 15. Stefano Utoikamanu 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Taniela Paseka 18. Leka Halasima 19. Latu Fainu 20. Paul Alamoti 21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 22. Sione Katoa

Samoa: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Brian To’o 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Sualauvi Faalogo 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Jarome Luai (c) 8. Francis Molo 9. Benaiah Ioelu 10. Junior Paulo (c) 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Francis Manuleleua 14. Jazz Tevaga 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Shawn Blore 17. Ata Mariota 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Ronald Volkman 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Enari Tuala 22. Deine Mariner