New Zealand confirmed their team for their World Cup opener against Lebanon but have now been forced into a late change, while another star is under an injury cloud.

SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER

 

England vs Samoa 12.30am AEDT at St James’ Park, Newcasltle

England team: 1. Sam Tomkins (c) 2. Tommy Makinson 3. Kallum Watkins 4. Herbie Farnworth 6. Jack Welsby 7. George Williams 8. Tom Burgess 9. Micky McIlorum 10. Luke Thompson 11. Elliott Whitehead 13. Victor Radley 14. Dom Young 15. Morgan Knowles 16. Matty Lees 17. Mike Cooper 18. Chris Hill 20. Mike McMeeken 21. Marc Sneyd 24. Kai Pearce-Paul

Late Mail: Coach Shaun Wane named a 19-man squad but did not confirm exact positions. Veteran Ryan Hall was not included which indicates Knights gun Dominic Young will make his debut on the wing. Brisbane’s Herbie Farnworth also looks set for a debut in the centres, while Victor Radley will likely start at lock. No John Bateman for this clash with the star second-rower serving a suspension.

Samoa team (alphabetical): 13. Josh Aloiai 4. Stephen Crichton 24 .Braden Hamlin-Uele 20. Chanel Harris-Tavita 23. Oregon Kaufusi 16. Spencer Leniu 9. Danny Levi 6. Jarome Luai 14. Tyrone May 7. Anthony Milford 8. Josh Papalii 10. Junior Paulo (c) 12. Jayden Su’a 1. Joseph Suaalii 18. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 3. Izack Tago 17. Martin Taupau 5. Brian To’o 22. Kelma Tuilagi

Late Mail: The Samoan team was named alphabetically but going off the jersey numbers expect Joseph Suaalii to play fullback, Jarome Luai and Anthony Milford to combine in the halves and Panthers trio Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton and Izack Tago in the backs along with recently-signed Dolphin Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Eels star Junior Paulo will captain up front and joining him in the pack is Josh Papalii.

Australia vs Fiji 5.30am AEDT at Headingly Stadium, Leeds

Australia team: 1. James Tedesco (c) 9. Josh Addo-Carr 8. Latrell Mitchell 4. Valentine Holmes 23. Murray Taulagi 7. Cameron Munster 2. Daly Cherry-Evans 18. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 3. Ben Hunt 5. Jake Trbojevic 17. Angus Crichton 22. Jeremiah Nanai 11. Cameron Murray 20. Harry Grant 16. Reuben Cotter 13. Pat Carrigan 10. Jack Wighton. 18th man - 12. Matt Burton 19th man - 19. Campbell Graham

Late Mail: Harry Grant will be carrying a rib complaint into the game after picking up an injury in Australia’s first training run this week. Nine News reported Grant ”slammed” into a goalpost and “took a long time to get up, clutching at his ribs.” The star hooker told Nine that he “got through all of the session... there was just a little bit of pain at the start.” Grant had ice on his ribs by the end of the session but was adamant he will play. Meanwhile, James Tedesco will make his captaincy debut with Cameron Murray appointed vice-captain. Daly Cherry-Evans will get first shot at halfback with Nathan Cleary among the four grand final players being rested.

Fiji team: 1. Sunia Turuva 5. Miteli Vulikijapani 4. Kevin Naiqama (c) 19. Semi Valemei 2. Maika Sivo 6. Sitiveni Moceidreke 7. Brandon Wakeham 17. King Vuniyayawa 9. Apisai Koroisau 13. Tui Kamikamica 12. Viliame Kikau 22. Josh Wong 16. Lamar Manuel-Liolevave 14. Penioni Tagituimu 23. Jowasa Drodrolagi 10. Ben Nakubuwai 11. Taniela Sadrugu 18. Netane Masima 21. Isaac Lumelume

Late Mail: Dragons powerhouse Mikaele Ravalawa has been ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury and has returned home. Replacing him on the wing is Raiders’ rising star Semi Valemei. Manly’s Pio Seci and Redcliffe’s Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu have also been ruled out. The squad has suffered another significant setback this week with coach Joe Rabele was hospitalised after falling ill. Wise Kativerata has flown to the UK to take over for now.

MONDAY 17 OCTOBER

 

Scotland vs Italy 12.30am AEDT at Kingston Park, Newcastle

Scotland team: (alphabetical): 11. Euan Aitken 15. Luke Bain 8. Logan Bayliss-Brow 13. James Bell 7. Ryan Brierley 4. Keiran Buchanan 20. Davey Dixon 24. Dale Ferguson (c) 19. Calum Gahan 6. Bailey Hayward 3. Ben Hellewell 9. Liam Hood 12. Kane Linnett 14. Kyle Schneider 18. Jack Teanby 5. Lachlan Walmsley

Late Mail: To come.

 

Italy team: 1. Luke Polsell 2. Richard Lepori 3. Daniel Atkinson 4. Ethan Natoli 5. Jake Maizen 6. Jack Campagnolo 7. Radean Robinson 10. Anton Iaria 9. Dean Parata 15. Luca Moretti 11. Ryan King 12. Brenden Santi 13. Nathan Brown (c) (Interchange: 14 Joey Tramontana 16. Gioele Celerino 19. Luke Hodge 20. Jack Colovatti 18. Kyle Pickering 17. Ronnie Palumbo)

Late Mail: To come.

Jamaica vs Ireland 3am AEDT at Emerald Headingly Stadium, Leeds

Jamaica team: 1. Ben Jones-Bishop 2.Mo Agoro 3.Joe Brown 4.Jacob Ogden 5.Alex Young 6.James Woodburn-Hall 7.Kieran Rush 10.Michael Lawrence 11 AJ Wallace 13.Ashton Golding (c) 15.Jorge Andrade 16.Keenan Tomlinson 17.Aaron Jones-Bishop 18.Abevia McDonald 19. Bradley Ho 20.Greg Johnson 21.Ross Peltier 22.Chevaughan Bailey 24. Andrew Simpson

Late Mail: To come.

 

Ireland team: (alphabetical): 11. James Bentley 8. Liam Byrne 4. Ed Chamberlain 9. Josh Cook 12. Frankie Halton 22. James Hasson 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 6. Luke Keary 7. Joe Keyes 4. Toby King 13. George King (c) 17. James McDonnel 19. Ronan Michael 1. Richie Myler 24. Dan Norman 14. Brendan O’Hagan 16. Harry Rushton 2. Innes Senior 20. Louis Senior

Late Mail: To come.

 

New Zealand vs Lebanon 5.30am AEDT at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington

New Zealand team: 1. Joseph Manu 2. Ronaldo Mulitalo 21. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 4. Peta Hiku 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Dylan Brown 7. Kieran Foran 8. Jesse Bromwich (c) 9. Brandon Smith 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Isaiah Papali’I 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Joseph Tapine (Interchange: 14. Jeremy Marshall-King 15. Moses Leota 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Briton Nikora 19. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Marata Niukore)

Late Mail: Coach Michael Maguire has been forced into making a late change with halfback Jahrome Hughes ruled out with a thigh strain. He’s been replaced in the squad by Jeremy Marshall-King while Manly veteran Kieran Foran will join Dylan Brown in the halves. Charne Nicoll-Klokstad is to play in the centres after training there during the week. Star prop Joseph Tapine is carrying a knee injury but is expected to play.

Lebanon team: 1.Jacob Kiraz 2.Josh Mansour 4. Brad Morkos 5.Abbas Miski 6. Adam Doueihi 7.Mitch Moses (c) 8.Kayne Kalache 9.Mikey Tannous 10. Hanna El-Nachar 11. Elie El-Zakhem 12. Charbel Tasipale 13.James Roumanos 14. Anthony Layoun 15. Andrew Kazzi 16. Reece Robinson 17.Jalal Bazzaz 19. Khalil Rahme 20.Jaxson Rahme 21.Josh Maree

Late Mail: To come.

TUESDAY 18 OCTOBER

France vs Greece 5.30am AEDT at Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster

France team: 1 Morgan Escare, 2 Arthur Romano, 3 Samisoni Langi, 4 Matthieu Laguerre, 5 Fouad Yaha, 6 Arthur Mourgue, 7 Tony Gigot, 8 Jordan Dezaria, 9 Alrix Da Costa, 10 Lambert Belmas, 11 Benjamin Jullien, 12 Paul Séguier, 13 Benjamin Garcia, 14 Eloi Pélissier, 15 Justin Sangaré, 17 Mickael Goudemand, 19 Corentin Le Cam, 21 Maxime Puech, 23 Cesar Rougé

Late Mail: To come.

 

Greece team: 1 Chaise Robinson, 2 Siteni Taukamo, 3 Terry Constantinou, 4 Nick Mougios, 5 John Mitsias, 6 Lachlan Ilias, 7 Jordan Meads, 8 Robert Tuliatu, 9 Peter Mamouzelos, 10 Stefanos Bastas, 11 Mitchell Zampetides, 12 Nick Flocas, 13 Billy Magoulias, 14 Jake Kambos, 15 Myles Gal, 16 Sebastian Sell, 17 Theodoros Nianiakas, 19 Liam Sue-Tin, 18 Aris Dardamanis

Late Mail: To come.

WEDNESDAY 19 OCTOBER

Mate Ma’a Tonga vs Papua New Guinea 5.30am AEDT at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helen’s

Tonga team: TBC.

Late Mail: To come.

 

Papua New Guinea team: TBC.

Late Mail: To come.

THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER

Wales vs Cook Islands 5.30am AEDT at Leigh Sports Village Stadium, Leigh

Wales team: TBC.

Late Mail: To come.

 

Cook Islands team: TBC.

Late Mail: To come.