Pool Matches - Week 2: Australia v Scotland preview
Australia got its World Cup defence off to a strong start, easily getting past Fiji 42-8 and will be looking to continue its charge against Scotland on Monday morning [AEDT].
It was a comprehensive first-up victory for the Kangaroos and ominous warning for the rest of the competition given Australia was still nowhere near its best, particularly in attack.
That point was not lost on five-eighth Cameron Munster, who admitted post-game that there was "a bit of rustiness" for the Kangaroos with the ball in hand.
"We should have scored a lot more points but didn't execute," he said.
"We go back to the drawing board and can hopefully be a bit better."
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga confirmed on Wednesday there would be mass changes, including six debutants (Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Matt Burton, Campbell Graham, Lindsay Collins).
Meanwhile, Harry Grant has been rewarded for a strong showing against Fiji with a starting spot, seeing Ben Hunt bumped back to the bench.
A win over Scotland will see Australia secure its spot in the knockout stages.
Scotland, meanwhile, looks no hope of going deep into the competition after it went down 28-4 in its opening game against Italy.
The Bravehearts failed to win a single game in their last outing at the World Cup and will be struggling to contain an Australian outfit that boasts far greater attacking firepower.
Complacency is really the only thing that should stop the Kangaroos from running up a cricket score on Monday morning.
Speaking after that defeat to Italy, Scotland coach Nathan Graham said he expects his players to embrace the challenge of facing Australia, adding: "If we can't get up for that game, we don't deserve to be here".
He also said the chance for Calum Gahan and Bailey Hayward to build their combination in the halves was a shining light to come out of the otherwise disappointing result.
"We kept shooting ourselves in the foot," he said.
"You've got to build pressure but we showed a bit of white-line fever at times and came up with a few unforced errors.
"The positives were that our half-back pairing of Calum Gahan and Bailey Hayward got to play together for the first time. They're young kids and they've one game more than they had building into next week."
Euan Aitken was the only current NRL player to feature for Scotland in the loss to Italy, although former Cowboy Kane Linett also suited up, as did Super League regulars Liam Hook, James Bell and Ryan Brierley.
Brierley though has been ruled out of this week's game with an elbow strain, with London Broncos fullback Alex Walker a possible replacement, although Davey Dixon and Jack Teanby have also been added to the reshuffled squad.
Last meeting: 2016 Four Nations - Australia 54 Scotland 12, Sewell Group Craven Park, Hull
Who to watch: Nathan Cleary. While Australia may have ran out comfortable winners against Fiji, halfback Cherry-Evans did not exactly quieten the outside noise surrounding his place in the team. Even before a ball was kicked there were calls for Panthers playmaker Nathan Cleary to be given the nod ahead of Cherry-Evans. Given Cleary guided Penrith to a second-straight premiership in the NRL, it is hard to argue he is not the in-form halfback in the game. But Meninga instead stuck with Cherry-Evans, citing both the fact he is the incumbent and has an existing connection with fellow Queenslanders Harry Grant, Ben Hunt and Cameron Munster. It is a valid point but a few key mistakes from Cherry-Evans, even in that big win over Fiji, kept the door ajar for Cleary to make a statement. With the Manly halfback set to sit out this Friday's game against Scotland, Cleary will have no better chance to press his claims for the starting role.
Bailey Hayward. Scotland were well-backed to prove too good for Italy in its last start, primarily on the back of Super League experience. It did not mean much though, with the Bravehearts lacking direction and spark in attack. If that was going to come from anyone, it was Ryan Brierley. But with the Salford fullback injured, Scotland now needs to look elsewhere. Coach Graham is right that Gahan and Hayward getting time playing together to build experience and cohesion for the future is important. But right now if Scotland is to figure in Monday's game against Australia, it needs someone to stand up. At just 21 years old, Hayward is still raw and will make a few mistakes. But the young Bulldog, who won the club's Jersey Flegg player of the year award and made the jump to NSW Cup, could be an option if given the license to play without fear of taking the wrong option. His running game in particular adds an extra element to the attack.
The favourite: Australia is expected to get the job done quite comfortably.
My tip: The Kangaroos have far too many strike weapons and will win this with ease. Australia by 60.
