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Kiwis name four new caps to face Scotland

Kiwis coach David Kidwell injects four uncapped players into his team to face Scotland in their Four Nations Test at Workington.

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Source: AAP


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Four new caps have been injected into an overhauled Kiwis team to face Scotland at the Four Nations.

Warriors winger David Fusitu'a is in the starting team while the three other uncapped players are on the interchange for Friday's Test in Workington.

Te Maire Martin, James Fisher-Harris and Joseph Tapine will make their debuts off the bench in a match New Zealand must win by 42 points to guarantee a place in the tournament final.

There are five personnel changes and a positional switch from the side who lost 14-8 to Australia in Coventry, marking a change to the selection methods of coach David Kidwell, who has kept a stable side through his first three Tests in charge.

There are changes on both wings, with Fusitu'a replacing Jordan Rapana while Jason Nightingale returns from an ankle injury. The veteran St George Illawarra flyer effectively replaces centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall, with Gerard Beale moving in one spot.

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In a third change to the outside back division, fullback Jordan Kahu makes way for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who has played one Test.

Forwards Manu Ma'u and Greg Eastwood are promoted from bench spots to replace Kevin Proctor and Jason Taumalolo, who are both rested.

Kidwell is pleased all 24 members of his squad will have had game time following the Test.

"The guys making their debuts deserve the opportunity to play. They have worked extremely hard and have been pushing for spots all tour," he said.

"They are hungry, their effort and attitude in training has shown me that, and they'll bring a lot of energy."

While winning by a large margin would boost New Zealand's hopes of reaching the final, Kidwell says the team's priority will simply be to win.

Scotland have lost both of their games heavily but rattled England early on last week.

"They have improved every game and if you add that on top of the conditions, we have a tough challenge ahead," Kidwell said.

Kiwis: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Jason Nightingale, Solomone Kata, Gerard Beale, David Fusitu'a, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Jesse Bromwich (capt), Issac Luke, Adam Blair, Manu Ma'u, Tohu Harris, Greg Eastwood. Interchange: Te Maire Martin, Martin Taupau, James Fisher-Harris, Joseph Tapine.


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