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SYDNEY - Australia has named four new caps and its youngest-ever center pairing for its first match at the Rugby League World Cup against New Zealand on Sunday.
Israel Folau, 19, and Melbourne Storm teammate Greg Inglis, 21, were named by coach Ricky Stuart Wednesday to start in
midfield, eclipsing Australia's previous youngest partnership of Brent Tate and Jamie Lyon who played together in 2003.
Folau and Inglis were on the wings when Australia last played New Zealand in May but an injury to Justin Hodges and Mark Gasnier's defection to rugby union has seen the pair reunited in the centers.
The newcomers in Australia's lineup, as it begins the defence of its World Cup title, are Canberra's Joel Monaghan, Gold Coast's Anthony Laffranchi and Manly forwards Glenn Stewart and Josh Perry.
Stewart and Laffranchi will combine in an uncapped backrow, Monaghan will play on the wing and Perry will start on the bench.
For New Zealand, Sika Manu will make his first starting appearance for the Kiwis in a second row partnership with Simon Mannering.
Prop Adam Blair also forced his way into the starting lineup ahead of Sam Rapira and Sam Perrett was named on the wing ahead of Krisnan Inu.
Captain Nathan Cayless, wing Manu Vatuvei and fullback Lance Hohaia, who missed last week's one-off test against Tonga because of injuries, return to the New Zealand side.
Steve Matai was passed fit to start at center after medical staff decided to defer shoulder surgery for the Manly star. Earlier Wednesday center Sia Soliola was ruled out of the Kiwi squad for the entire World Cup because of a shoulder injury.
The 11th Rugby League World Cup begins Saturday with a match between England and Papua New Guinea and continues Sunday with the Australia-New Zealand match and a clash between France and Scotland.
Lineups:
Australia: Billy Slater, Joel Monaghan, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Brent Tate, Darren Lockyer (captain), Jonathan Thurston, Petero Civoniceva, Cameron Smith, Steve Price, Glenn Stewart, Anthony Laffranchi, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Brent Kite, Josh Perry, Anthony Tupou, Kurt Gidley.
New Zealand: Lance Hohaia, Sam Perrett, Steve Matai, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Benji Marshall, Thomas Leuluai, Nathan Cayless (captain), Nathan Fien, Adam Blair, Simon Mannering, Sika Manu, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Dene Halatau, Greg Eastwood, Setaimata Sa, Sam Rapira.
- AP
