Kangaroos

Prop Andrew Fifita will now start in the front row on Friday night against New Zealand at GIO Stadium, after Boyd was ruled out due to a lower leg injury.

Jake Trbojevic has been promoted to the interchange bench in place of Fifita.

The updated 2017 AnzacTest Kangaroos squad is: 
 

Australia claimed the match 38-16 at the London Stadium, however Thaiday was forced from the field following a heavy collision with England forward James Graham. 

The pair clashed heads, with the Australian coming off second best, and was taken to hospital for scans on the injury. 

“Unfortunately it will probably put [Thaiday] out of the game next week,” Australian coach Mal Meninga said post-match. 

“I think it was accidental.” 

Kangaroos playmaker Cooper Cronk echoed those sentiments after the comprehensive victory. 

It follows news that veteran forward Sam Thaiday has been passed fit after he completed the captain's run at London's Olympic Stadium.

Thaiday had been in doubt all week following the Kangaroos' last-start win over the Kiwis but will play club coach Wayne Bennett's England outfit.

The result in Workington, which saw Scotland become the first second-tier nation to gain a point at a Four Nations tournament, means a draw or win against Australia will now guarantee England of a spot in the November 20 final at Anfield, Liverpool.

With Australia getting up for a 54-12 victory over Scotland in the opening round of tournament play last week and the Kiwis edging past England 17-16, the winner of the trans-Tasman Test on Sunday morning (AEDT) will inch closer to securing a spot in the Four Nations final.

Fullback Matt Moylan (Kangaroo No 812), centre Justin O'Neill (813), five-eighth James Maloney (811), lock Jake Trbojevic (814) and interchange player Jake Friend (815) will all play in the green and gold jersey for the first time.

Cooper Cronk will play his 30th Test match for Australia against the Bravehearts.

Australia will play The Bravehearts in Hull to open the Four Nations in the first of six pool matches. The game will kick-off at 6.00am AEDT on Saturday, October 29 (5.00am in Queensland).

Kangaroos centre Josh Dugan said the squad had already started to acclimatise to the UK time zone and conditions.  

In a test that was short of thrilling moments, Australia put in a workmanlike performance to record their second straight win over the No 1 team in the world.

The Kangaroos outscored the Kiwis five tries to one, with a big problem for New Zealand being knowing what the right move should be when attacking on the last tackle.

The spark that guided them to the outstanding 26-12 win over the Kangaroos in Brisbane last year, just wasn't there and other than the big runs from Jason Taumalolo, there were few 'wow' moments from players in black and white jerseys.

Holmes, Boyd and Frizell on Friday were named to make their Australian debuts in Saturday's international against New Zealand at Perth's nib Stadium.

Fifita was one of a number of big names left out of the Four Nations squad, but his absence was particularly notable, given on form he was almost a shoe-in for selection.

Speaking on the Triple M Rush Hour, Meninga made it clear playing for the Kangaroos was about more than onfield performance.

“It’s about on and off the field, it’s about taking and accepting the responsibility as a role model for the game . . . we’re trying to lift the standards of the green and gold," Meninga said.