Let's Talk Test Teams

With teams for the Trans-Tasman Test selected in a little under two weeks, we turn our attention to Australia and New Zealand selection.

INCUMBENTS

AUSTRALIA - MATT SCOTT (PROP) - A veteran of 17 Tests for his country, Cowboys enforcer Matt Scott has been one of the first forwards pencilled into the team sheet since debuting in 2010. Scott is again laying a solid platform for the defending Premiers running for 121 metres a match with his bullocking charges over the advantage line. Not noted for his offloading ability, but with 10 for the year, is providing his team with some handy second phase play. Reminded everyone of his physicality on Friday night with a dominant performance against the South Sydney pack including a couple of bell-ringers in defence to rock the Burgess boys. 

NEW ZEALAND - TOHU HARRIS (SECOND-ROW) - Melbourne Storm back-rower Tohu Harris has quickly racked up 10 caps for the Kiwis since debuting in 2013 and looks set for many more to come. Has had another solid start to the season toiling away for 118 metres and 26 tackles per game, playing the full 80 minutes on most occasions. His ability to cover a number of positions when required brings plenty of versatility to the table, along with his neat footwork for a big man and the ability to pass before or through the line. His biggest attribute though is his natural raw strength with multiple defenders almost always required to drag him to the turf. The extra defenders he attracts often leaves his teammates with added room to attack from on the ensuing plays.

THE RECALLED

AUSTRALIA - PAUL GALLEN (PROP/LOCK) - There have been some whispers over the weekend that new Coach Mal Meninga is set to overlook the inspirational Blues Captain, surely pure speculation that's way off the mark. It's no coinicidence in his absence through injury in the corresponding match last year, the New Zealand pack dominated the Australians through the middle. Gallen has shown no signs of letting up in his start to the season running an average 148 metres a match to go with his 26 tackles. His toughness in the game is unrivalled and his ability to hit the line hard and get a quick play the ball is always an asset. If the whispers are true, you can almost see the reasoning behind it. Gallen has announced his retirement from rep footy at the end of the year and Coach Meninga has a World Cup to plan for at the end of next year. Every Test match should be treated with the utmost importance though and Australia should be picking the team that can reclaim Trans-Tasman supremacy right now. With 31 quality Test Matches behind him, Gallen deserves to be donning his National colours one last time and go out like the champion he is.

NEW ZEALAND - KIERAN FORAN (FIVE-EIGHTH) - After missing last year's tour of England through injury, Kieran Foran will be the first player picked by Coach Stephen Kearney, even ahead of Captain Simon Mannering. In fact, don't be surprised if Foran winds up with the © next to his name as well. With 20 Tests Matches to his name and many more to come, Foran has become one of the most influential players in the game today. His arrival at Parramatta this year has transformed the Eels from a team with promising talent into a serious Premiership threat. His ability to play direct and square defensive lines up is second to none, nor is his tenacity and will to compete. In recent weeks his running game has started to flourish as well, highlighted by his spectacular solo try against the Raiders in Round 6. The really great players and legends of the game are often stood apart by how their teammates lift to another level when they're on the park, Kieran Foran undeniably falls into that category.

THE ROOKIES

AUSTRALIA - SEMI RADRADRA (WING) - The native Fijian winger has been the centre of debate in recent times regarding the games current eligibility rules. For what it's worth, I find it baffling how we have two sets of rules for Origin and International selection. No matter which side of the debate you sit on, fact is Semi Radradra is the number one winger in the game today and under the current laws Coach Meninga should be picking the best squad available to knock off the Kiwis. With 50 tries from 55 games, the semi-trailer is up there with the best finishers in the game. Getting a  bit less ball than he's used to at the Eels this year, big Semi has still managed to notch up 6 line-breaks, 23 tackle busts and an average 130 running metres per game. His brute strength makes him a valuable asset coming out of his own end and when given the ball in open spaces is almost an unstoppable force.

NEW ZEALAND - KENNY EDWARDS (INTERCHANGE) - After missing the majority of the 2015 season with a knee injury, Edwards has hit the ground running this season with some impressive attacking displays. With 2 tries, 18 tackle busts and 87 metres per game, the versatile Eels interchange forward has proven a headache for opposition defenders, coming on late in the first half to challenge some tiring defenders with his unique skillset of footwork, strength and a deft passing game. With the Kiwis set to name a formidable and hard running forward pack to gain an early ascendancy, Edwards could prove a lethal weapon coming off the bench.

UNDER THE PUMP

AUSTRALIA - ALEX JOHNSTON - Making his Test debut in the corresponding match last year, Johnston failed to live up to the hype making minimal impact with the ball in hand. His prolific try scoring record would have been enough to impress representative selectors in years gone by, but these days the game's top wingers need to be doing more. Making metres coming out of trouble early in the tackle count has become paramount and Johnston doesn't quite fit that bill. Did have an impressive opening to the season with 4 tries in 3 games but has since missed a month of football with a hamstring strain. Listed to return next week, the Rabbitohs flyer will need to make a big impression in a short space of time to retain his jersey.

NEW ZEALAND - ALEX GLENN - After almost two years out of the New Zealand squad, Glenn was given an opportunity on the Kiwis tour of England last year with a numbers of forwards unavailable through injury. Playing off the bench, the Broncos second-rower got the job done as he usually does. Runs good lines in attack on his left edge and is a sound defender, but with the likes of Jason Taumololo and Simon Mannering likely returning to the fold, Glenn needs to be making more impact in games to remain in the team.

The teams for the one-off test played on Friday 6 May at Hunter Stadium, Newcastle, will be named on Sunday 1 May.