League: Australia make six changes

Todd Carney will start ahead of Kangaroos' captain Darren Lockyer at five-eighth. Photo / Getty Images

Australia coach Tim Sheens has today made six personnel changes to the starting 13 that played against England at Melbourne last Sunday, as well as giving four players their test debuts, for the Four Nations rugby league test against the Kiwis at Auckland on Saturday night.

Those winning their first caps include newly crowned international player of the year Todd Carney, who replaces regular captain Darren Lockyer at five-eighth.

The other newcomers are centre Chris Lawrence, prop Matthew Scott and interchange forward Dean Young.

Fullback Billy Slater is one of the players who has been dropped, with St George Illawarra's Darius Boyd replacing him.

Team: Darius Boyd, Brett Morris, Brent Tate, Chris Lawrence, Lote Tuqiri, Todd Carney, Cooper Cronk, Matthew Scott, Cameron Smith (captain), David Shillington, Greg Bird, Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Dean Young, Petero Civoniceva, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Robbie Farah, Kurt Gidley (one to be omitted).

- NZPA