League: Four changes to Kiwis side

Kiwis rugby league coach Brian McClennan has made four changes to last week's winning team for Friday's return Tri-Nations test match against Australia in Auckland.

Bradford Bulls centre Shontayne Hape and Hull's Motu Tony will replace the injured Clinton Toopi and Lance Hohaia.

Penrith second rower Tony Puletua and Iafeta Palea'aesina have also come into the side on the interchange bench for the game at Ericsson Stadium.

They replace Nathan Cayless, who has stayed in Sydney to be with his partner who is having a baby, and second rower Frank Pritchard, who has been omitted and replaced in the starting lineup by David Solomona.

"Both Shontayne and Motu have been in good form," McClennan said.

"Having to replace Clinton and Lance is a blow but it's a good thing we have some very talented players to replace them with.

"Motu played in the New Zealand A side that beat the Australian Invitational team last Saturday and, of course, Shontayne was one of the top performers in the Bradford side that won the Super League grand final.

"Puletua and Palea'aesina had good games for New Zealand A and pushed their way in to the team."

McClennan said he was delighted at having such a big pool of talent available to him for selection.

"It makes selections tough, but that's not a bad thing.

"It's actually great to know we have so many players pushing for places in the test team. Obviously they all offer something different to our game and that's a real plus."

Toopi and Hohaia will remain with the Kiwis touring squad who leave for England on Saturday.

Toopi damaged his knee in Saturday's shock 38-28 win over the Kangaroos in Sydney.

An MRI scan yesterday revealed a tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Hohaia also had an MRI which showed no bone injuries. However there is some ligament damage to his left ankle.

"We are very confident that both players will recover quickly enough to play a part in the series," McClennan said.

Also included in the full Tri-Nations squad are English Super League grand finalists Lesley Vainikolo and Ali Lauiti'iti, along with New Zealand A players Awen Guttenbeil and Bronson Harrison.

* TEAM FOR FRIDAY NIGHT:

Brent Webb, Jake Webster, Paul Whatuira, Shontayne Hape, Manu Vatuvei, Nigel Vagana, Stacey Jones, Paul Rauhihi, Motu Tony, Ruben Wiki, David Kidwell, David Solomona, Louis Anderson. Interchange: David Faiumu, Roy Asotasi, Iafeta Palea'aesina, Tony Puletua.

Full Tri-Nations squad:

Louis Anderson, Roy Asotasi, David Faiumu, Awen Guttenbeil, Shontayne Hape, Bronson Harrison, Lance Hohaia, Stacey Jones, David Kidwell, Ali Lauiti'iti, Iafeta Palea'aesina, Frank Pritchard, Tony Puletua, Paul Rauhihi, David Solomona, Motu Tony, Clinton Toopi, Nigel Vagana, Lesley Vainikolo, Manu Vatuvei, Brent Webb, Jake Webster, Paul Whatuira, Ruben Wiki.

- NZPA