Eden Park to host rugby league Anzac Test

[DIEHARD]

Eden Park to host rugby league Anzac Test

This year's Anzac Test will be at Eden Park, and the New Zealand Rugby League is confident there won't be a repeat of the crowd problems that marred the sport's last international appearance at the Auckland venue.

The NZRL has confirmed that the Test will be played at the country's largest stadium on April 20.

The Kiwis and Kangaroos also met there as part of a Four Nations double-header in 2010, an occasion blighted by part of the 44,300 crowd raining plastic bottles on to the ground.

Chief executive Jim Doyle says the NZRL spent a lot of time with Eden Park officials afterwards discussing matters like security and the way alcohol was sold.

"They've had a lot of games there since then, with the Rugby World Cup and soccer, and they've addressed all these issues," he said on Saturday.

During the World Cup in September and October, when the capacity was temporarily increased by 10,000 to 60,000, there were 11 matches at Eden Park, including both semi-finals and the final.

During the past year, the NRL's Warriors and A-League soccer side the Wellington Phoenix have also moved home fixtures there.

"It is now an excellent facility and we want the Kiwis to be playing on the biggest and best stage we have," Doyle said.

The last Anzac Test in New Zealand was in 1998, when the Kiwis won 22-16 at another Auckland venue, North Harbour Stadium.

Meanwhile, Doyle said Christchurch remained on the radar for future internationals.

The city was to have hosted last year's Anzac Test, but February's devastating earthquake resulted in that match being moved to the Gold Coast.

At the time, there were hopes that Christchurch might have recovered enough to be able to hold this year's Test, but having a big enough stadium and sufficient accommodation remain hurdles.

"We're hoping to do something there in the not-too-distant future," Doyle said.

"There's a big appetite for international rugby league down there."

http://www.nrl.com

[GoldCoastTitans100]

I think the team will be

AUS

1. Billy Slater
2. Brett Morris
3. Greg Inglis
4. Josh Morris
5. Akuila Uate
6. Johnathon Thurston
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Matt Scott
9. Cameron Smith
10. Dave Shillington
11. Sam Thaiday
12. Greg Bird
13. Ashley Harrison

14. Ben HANNANT/ Nate MYLES
15. Corey PARKER/ Trent MERRIN
16. Dave TAYLOR
17. Ben BARBA/ cherry evans

I would also take
18. Luke LEWIS/ Beau Scott

NZ


1. Jason Nightingale
2. Matt Duffie
3. Gerard Beale
4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
5. Manu Vatuvei
6. Benji Marshall
7. Nathan Fien
8. Russell Packer
9. Issac Luke
10. Sam McKendry
11. Alex Glenn
12. Simon Mannering
13. Jeremy Smith

14. Kevin Proctor
15. Jesse Bromwich
16. Fuifui Moimoi
17. Elijah Taylor

18. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves

Foran will be picked at HB if fit obviously but if he isn't than I can see Fien playing their.