RLWC2021 – Australia v Scotland: Team news, how to watch on TV & predictions

Josh McAllister 21 Oct 2022 1:15 PM

Everything you need to know – Australia v Scotland.

Australia and Scotland kick-off the second round of the Men’s tournament on Friday night in the Rugby League World Cup.

The Kangaroos claimed a 42-8 victory over Fiji in their opening game at Leeds’ Headingley Stadium, with flying winger Josh Addo-Carr bagging a brace.

Meanwhile, Scotland fell to a disappointing 28-4 defeat to Italy at Kingston Park in their opening Group B fixture.

Match details

Australia v Scotland
Date: Friday 21st October
Kick-off time: 7:30pm
Venue: Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry
Group B

Australia v Scotland team news

Australia 19-man squad: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daly Cherry-Evans, 3. Ben Hunt, 4. Valentine Holmes, 5. Jake Trbojevic, 6. Reafan Campbell-Gillard, 7. Cameron Munster, 9. Josh Addo-Carr, 10 Jack Wighton, 12 Matt Burton, 13 Patrick Carrigan, 14 Nathan Cleary, 15. Lindsay Collins, 17. Angus Crichton, 19. Campbell Graham, 20. Harry Grant, 21, Liam Martin, 22. Jeremiah Nanai, 24. Isaah Yeo

Scotland 19-man squad: 2. Matty Russell, 3. Ben Hellewell, 4. Kieran Buchanan, 5. Lachlan Walmsley, 6. Bailey Hayward, 9. Logan Bayliss-Brow, 9. Liam Hood, 10. Sam Luckley, 11. Euan Aitken, 12. Kane Linnett, 13. James Bell, 14. Kyle Schneider, 15. Luke Bain, 18. Jake Teanby, 19. Calum Gahan, 20. Davey Dixon, 22. Alex Walker, 23. Bayley Lie, 24. Dale Ferguson.

What the two camps are saying

Australia boss Mal Meninga said on his team changes: “I think there will be about seven of them that didn’t play on the weekend, they’ll all be playing against Scotland.

“I’ll give them an opportunity to work together, obviously Ben Hunt started (at) nine but I’ll probably start Harry Grant this week and James Tedesco who’s the captain will start again.

“We’re trying out our spine, we had the Queensland spine plus Teddy last weekend, but we will try this combination this weekend and see how it goes.”

Scotland head coach Nathan Graham said: “We’re playing the world champions next and, if we can’t get up for that game, we don’t deserve to be here,” Graham said.

“It’s a quick turnaround so we’ve got to get the bodies right and, more importantly, our heads right and come up with a game plan for Australia.”

How can I watch the game on TV?

Every game across the men’s, women’s and wheelchair World Cup tournaments is being broadcast by the BBC.

Australia v Scotland will be live on both BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Friday.

READ: How to watch every Rugby League World Cup game on the BBC

Odds and predictions

As expected, Scotland head into this clash as massive underdogs, priced at a massive 33/1 with Planet Sport Bet. You won’t get much for your money on Australia.

You’d expect the favourites to win this one very comfortably.