League: Aussie squad notable for newcomers and Brit pick

Much like the troopers at Buckingham Palace who are famously replaced each day, there has been a changing of the guard in Australian rugby league.

Everyone knew it was coming but the Kangaroos side looks a little threadbare without the likes of Andrew Johns, Ben Kennedy, Danny Buderus and even Steve Menzies.

The Kangaroos Tri Nations squad contains only seven players from that beaten 24-0 by the Kiwis in last year's final and 10 from the one that triumphed 50-12 in the Anzac test. In a team selected with an eye on the 2008 World Cup, only Petero Civoniceva aged is over 29.

Few can feel aggrieved to have missed out, however, unlike past years when loyalty was high in the selectors' minds. Admittedly 12 players were unavailable due to injury, while retirement and personal reasons robbed them of others, but there is a freshness not seen in the squad for some time.

Nine new faces were on show when the 23-man squad assembled in Sydney , including teenagers Greg Inglis and Jarryd Hayne, and relative bolters Anthony Tupou, Sam Thaiday and Ben Hornby.

"It is quite an exciting time for Australian rugby league," Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart enthused. "There's no policy on youth - if they're the best players, they get picked. There's no one picked there just for experience. Every person there I'm comfortable playing in a test match."

He should be. His squad contains 10 players from the grand final, including seven from the Broncos, and has a good blend of experience with Darren Lockyer, Civoniceva, Willie Mason and Nathan Hindmarsh.

But it was also noteworthy for the selection of centre Jamie Lyon, the first player Australia has plucked from the UK Super League. Lyon has been in fine form for St Helens and picked up last year's Man of Steel award.

The 23-year-old will miss the Tri Nations opener because of the Super League grand final. It has been suggested the selectors relaxed their stance on overlooking players in the UK because Lyon has signed for Manly for 2007.

Great Britain coach Brian Noble has also had to look to the future with retirements and injuries hitting his side. He's included six new caps in a squad notable for the absence of Keiron Cunningham and Iestyn Harris (who have both retired from representing Great Britain) and Paul Sculthorpe (knee).

Much is expected of halves combination Danny McGuire and Sean Long, who were the chief architects of Great Britain's 46-14 mauling of the understrength Kiwis in June.

But after making the 2004 Tri Nations final, the Lions picked up last year's wooden spoon and are odds-on to do the same this year.