2014 Four Nations: Sione Mata'utia makes Kangaroos history against England
Tuesday 28 October 2014 10:49, UK
Sione Mata'utia will make history by becoming the youngest Test debutant for Australia in the Kangaroos' must-win Four Nations clash with England in Melbourne on Sunday.
The Newcastle Knights winger will take the field at the age of 18 years and 130 days, beating the record of Israel Folau – now a huge rugby union star - who was 18 years and 194 days on his debut in 2007.
Mata’utia – who has played in just seven NRL games - replaces Daniel Tupou, who has been dropped after making his debut in Saturday's 30-12 defeat by New Zealand in the Kangaroos' opening game in Brisbane.
Daly Cherry-Evans has been named at stand-off as he battles to overcome the hip injury he sustained against the Kiwis but coach Tim Sheens has drafted the uncapped Ben Hunt onto a seven-man bench as cover.
Sheens has shuffled his pack with Corey Parker promoted to loose forward and Josh Hoffman dropped to the bench, while Canterbury Bulldogs forward David Klemmer could also make his debut after being drafted into the 20-man squad
Australia: G Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs); J Mansour (Penrith Panthers), M Jennings (Sydney Roosters), D Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs), S Mata'utia (Newcastle Knights); D Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles), C Cronk (Melbourne Storm); A Woods (Wests Tigers), C Smith (Melbourne Storm, capt), S Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos), B Scott (Newcastle Knights), G Bird (Gold Coast), C Parker (Brisbane Broncos)
Replacements: B Cordner (Sydney Roosters), R Farah (Wests Tigers), A Guerra (Sydney Roosters), R Hoffman (Melbourne Storm), B Hunt (Brisbane Broncos), D Klemmer (Canterbury Bulldogs), J Papalii (Canberra Raiders)
