Australia v Samoa: men’s Rugby League World Cup semi-final – live

Updates as the Kangaroos and Toa Samoa meet at Allianz StadiumKick-off time in Sydney is 8.05pm local/9.05am GMTAny thoughts? Get in touch with an emailLike a US midterm electoral map it is a sea of blue inside Allianz Stadium this evening. It is a sellout and the vast majority of fans are here to cheer on Samoa, not the nominal home team, Australia. Continue reading…

The crowd is building for the second match of the day. Earlier Australia’s Jillaroos reached their fifth consecutive World Cup final, but they were pushed hard by Fiji Bulikula. Like a US midterm electoral map it is a sea of blue inside Allianz Stadium this evening. It is a sellout and the vast majority of fans are here to cheer on Samoa, not the nominal home team, Australia. Team News Australia: Kevin Walters revealed his hand last weekend so it is no surprise to see Reece Walsh starting ahead of James Tedesco at fullback, and Tom Dearden beating Sam Walker in the race for a starting berth in the halves.

Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray are fit enough to make the bench, where they will join Ethan Strange, who retains his place after an eye-catching cameo against Cook Islands. Samoa: Just one enforced change for Ben Gardiner with Ronald Volkman replacing the injured Chanel Harris-Tavita at five-eighth. The Eel came on for the Warrior against Tonga after the starting No 6 pulled his hamstring kicking for goal. 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Brian To’o, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Sua Fa’alogo, 6. Ronald