Australia set to continue superiority over Kiwis

Anzac Test
Premier Sports, 11am Friday

In four meetings against neighbours New Zealand in 2016, Australia's Kangaroos racked up four victories with an aggregate scoreline of 90-22.

That is just a small example of the dominance Australia have exerted over the Kiwis since the turn of the millennium. In 38 meetings since 2000, Australia have won 29 times including 13 of the 14 mid-season Anzac Test matches.

Bookmakers expect the world champions to extend that sequence on Friday with Mal Meninga's side chalked up as eight-point favourites for the Canberra clash.

Meninga has kept faith with the majority of the squad who tore apart New Zealand 34-8 in last season's Four Nations final at Anfield.

Continuity was a cornerstone of his tenure as Queensland coach in their era of State of Origin supremacy and looks certain to be so again as he prepares the Kangaroos for a home defence of their world crown later this year.

However, don't expect a repeat of the Anfield scoreline in Canberra. The last four Anzac Tests have been decided by 16, 14, 12 and 20 points and a home victory by a similar margin makes most appeal.

New Zealand have named what appears their strongest line-up since the successful 2015 Four Nations campaign with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and playmaker Keiran Foran making their first appearances in two years and are likely to be much more competitive than they were in Liverpool last November.

Recommendation
Australia to win by 11 to 20 points
2pts 11-4 bet365