Australia v New Zealand Live

Click here to Watch Australia v New Zealand Live

                         

Australia play New Zealand in the second of the two semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup 2011. The game will be played on Sunday this weekend, to be played at the Eden Park in Auckland. Auckland has, so far, proved to be one of the venues that the All Blacks have absolutely dominated their opponents and will look to overcome the Wallabies here.

Australia’s path to the semi-final has been rugged and difficult. They started off with a win over each of their group stage opponent, Italy, Russia and USA except that they went down to Ireland in one of the games. It was a loss that pushed them to the second position in the group and that meant that the side had had to play the top ranked side, South Africa in the quarter-finals.

It was a solid game, and South Africa looked the better team in all the 80 matches of the encounter, but in the end, the scoreline suggested something else. Australia went on to just edge South Africa out in the match, winning by a narrow 11-9 margin.

New Zealand have played Australia for a 142 matches and New Zealand have won as many as 96 games against their opponents. The two sides have played two games in World Cup rugby as well and the Aussies have won both the games which makes for more interesting reading. Australia and New Zealand had last played in the last game of the Tri Nations which the two sides needed to win to clinch the tournament. However, Australia won the game 25-20.

New Zealand will go into the game without Colin Slade and Mils Muliaina, both of whom were injured in the previous quarter-final against Argentina. Time for them to be replaced. Richie McCaw’s inclusion depends on whether he will be fit to play.

Australia have named Kurtley Beale in the side but it is not known whether he will make it to the team.

New Zealand: 1. Tony Woodcock, 2. Keven Mealamu, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Sam Whitelock, 5. Brad Thorn, 6. Jerome Kaino, 7. Richie McCaw (capt), 8. Kieran Read, 9. Piri Weepu, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. Richard Kahui, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 13. Conrad Smith, 14. Cory Jane, 15. Israel Dagg.

Reserves: 16. Andrew Hore, 17. Ben Franks, 18. Ali Williams, 19. Victor Vito, 20. Andy Ellis, 21. Stephen Donald, 22. Sonny Bill Williams.

Australia: 1. Sekope Kepu, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Ben Alexander, 4. Daniel Vickerman, 5. James Horwill (capt), 6. Rocky Elsom, 7. David Pocock, 8. Radike Samo, 9. Will Genia, 10. Quade Cooper, 11. Digby Ioane, 12. Pat McCabe, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper or Anthony Fainga'a, 14. James O'Connor, 15. Kurtley Beale or Ashley-Cooper.

Reserves: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. James Slipper, 18. Rob Simmons, 19. Ben McCalman, 20. Luke Burgess, 21. Berrick Barnes, 22. Fainga'a or Rob Horne.