~LIVESTREAM**ON@!~] NEW ZEALAND VS LEBANON LIVE RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP RUGBY FREE FOX ON OCTOBER 16TH, 2022
Written by ABC AUDIO on October 16, 2022
Kick-off Time, Venue, TV Channel, and Team News for New Zealand vs. Lebanon
After seeing the 2017 World Cup Finalists shine yesterday as England and Australia combined for 102 points, it’s New Zealand’s turn today.
In an opening round Pool C match in Warrington, World Cup heavyweights New Zealand are poised to make a statement against Lebanon.
The Kiwis are all-but guaranteed to finish first in Pool C, ahead of Lebanon, Jamaica, and Ireland, after coming into the competition motivated to make up for a poor showing in the southern hemisphere five years ago.
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Coach Michael Maguire has named a nearly identical line-up from the side that prevailed in the mid-season test held in Auckland, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad preferred ahead of Marata Niukore in the centres, after producing a comfortable victory over Tonga (26-6) back in June, as well as a warm-up obliteration against Leeds (74-0) last week.
The Kiwis were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2017 World Cup by Fiji (4-2). Prior to that, the team reached three consecutive World Cup finals, most notably defeating Australia in 2008.
Lebanon produced their finest World Cup performance in 2017, finishing in the quarterfinals, and will be looking to emulate that result by progressing beyond the pool round.
Coach Michael Cheika will be relying on the experience of Mitchell Moses, Josh Mansour, and Adam Doueihi to inspire a against-the-odds success after a comfortable mid-year win over Malta (30-14) with a squad bereft of current NRL or Super League stars.
Last weekend, the Cedars defeated Wales (38-22) in a warm-up match in Sale.
Lebanon previously met New Zealand in the first round of the 2000 World Cup, with Canterbury-Bankstown rookie Jacob Kiraz wearing the number one shirt.
The Cedars had previously qualified for the World Cup twice, in 2000 and 2017, defeating France (29-18) and just missing out on a semi-final berth against Tonga (22-24).
The Kiwis are the world’s top-ranked team, and they are hoping to recreate the magic of their 2008 World Cup victory.
They face Lebanon, who also has some tremendous skill on their team. Here’s all you need to know about the game today.
Time and location of the game
The game begins at 19:30 at Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington.
The game can be accessed via the BBC’s red button or iPlayer.
Team Updates
With the addition of Joey Manu and Dylan Brown to the 19-man roster, New Zealand have only added to the strength of the side that defeated Leeds last week. Meanwhile, Lebanon has its own talents, like as NRL Grand Finalist Mitchell Moses and Wigan flyer Abbas Miski.
TEAM UPDATES
NEW ZEALAND (NZ)
1 Joseph Manu, 2 Ronaldo Mulitalo, 3 Marata Niukore, 19-man squad Peta Hiku, 4 Jordan Rapana, No. 5 Dylan Brown, 6 Hughes, Jahrome, 7, Jesse Bromwich, 8 Brandon Smith, 9 James Fisher-Harris, 10 Isaiah Papali’i, 11 Kenny Bromwich, 12 Joseph Tapine, 13 Kieran Foran, 14 Moses Leota, 15 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 16 Nikora, a 17-year-old Briton, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 19 Nicoll-Klokstad Charnze 21
LEBANON
1 Jacob Kiraz, 2 Josh Mansour, 4 Brandon Morkos, 5 Abbas Miski, 6 Adam Doueihi, 19-man squad Mitchell Moses (7th), Kayne Kalache (8th), Mikey Tannous, 9 Hanna El-Nachar (10), Elie El-Zakhem (11), Charbel Tasipale (12), James Roumanos (13), Anthony Layoun (14), and Andrew Kazzi (15). Reece Robinson, 16 Jalal Bazzaz (17), Khalil Rahme (19), Jaxson Rahme (20), and Josh Maree (21).
THE PROJECTION
New Zealand will be trying to replicate their triumphs from the Rugby League World Cup in 2008, when they won their first title. The Kiwis have been runners-up on multiple occasions, most recently in 2013, but they will be confident in the quality of their squad this time around. They have perhaps the strongest pack in the tournament, as well as some exciting backs talent, with Joey Manu and Jahrome Hughes likely to be crucial to their chances. They play a Lebanon team that will hope they can make the quarter-finals courtesy to their halves partnership of Adam Doueihi and Mitchell Moses, but they should be no match for the Kiwis in this first encounter, with the Kiwis covering the -38 handicap.
