Papali'i in Kiwis' squad for England Test

Uncapped backrow forward Isaiah Papali'i has been included in New Zealand's 20-man squad for the third Test against England at Leeds.

New Zealand coach Michael Maguire has brought uncapped back-row forward Isaiah Papali'i into a 20-man squad for the third Test against England at Elland Road on Sunday.

The 20-year-old New Zealand Warrior played for Samoa against Tonga earlier this year but is set to win his first cap for the Kiwis in place of Marty Taupau, who is dropped after appearing in the first two Tests.

Maguire will not confirm his line-up until 90 minutes before kick-off but utility back Gerard Beale and Brisbane winger Jamayne Isaako are vying to replace Jordan Rapana, who has flown back to Australia after dislocating a shoulder in the Kiwis' 20-14 defeat at Anfield last Sunday.

Beale's last Test appearance was in the opening round of the 2017 World Cup against Samoa while Isaako made his debut in the Kiwis' 36-18 defeat by England in Denver in June.

Veteran forward Adam Blair, 32, is set to edge closer to becoming only the eighth player in history to play 50 or more Tests as he lines up a 48th cap, as New Zealand aim to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash.

Squad: D Watene-Zelezniak (Penrith, capt), L Ah Mau (St George Illawarra), G Beale (NZ Warriors), A Blair (NZ Warriors), J Bromwich (Melbourne), K Bromwich (Melbourne), J Fisher-Harris (Penrith), J Hughes (Melbourne), J Isaako (Brisbane), S Johnson (NZ Warriors), I Liu (Sydney Roosters) J Manu (Sydney Roosters), E Marsters (Wests Tigers), K Maumalo (NZ Warriors), K Nikorima (Brisbane), I Papali'i (NZ Warriors), K Proctor (Gold Coast), B Smith (Melbourne), J Tapine (Canberra), J Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters).


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world