Nightingale, JWH make way for Beale, Eastwood

The absence of a veteran wing and the return of a long- serving forward are the significant aspects of the Kiwis team named to face Australia tomorrow.

Wing Jason Nightingale has failed to recover from an ankle injury and is replaced by Gerard Beale.

The other change i s also injury enforced, with Bulldogs forward Greg Eastwood coming into the 17- man squad for Jared Waerea- Hargreaves, who is carrying a knee strain and isn’t deemed to be 100 per cent fit.

Adam Blair, so impressive off the bench against England, will be part of the starting rotation in place of Waerea- Hargreaves.

Otherwise, coach David Kidwell has named the same lineup that performed so well in Huddersfield, with Joseph Tapine and David Fusitua cover on an extended bench.

“It’s tough losing players of Nighty’s [ Nightingale] and Jared’s [ Waerea- Hargreaves] talent and experience,” said Kidwell.

“We are fortunate to have quality reinforcements who understand what international football i s all about.”

The changes don’t significantly weaken the Kiwis. Beale has played only eight tests but has been on the international scene since 2011 and was part of Cronulla’s recent Cinderella season.

Like Nightingale, he has been solid rather than spectacular and will no doubt be tested under the high ball and in the tough carries out of his own territory, but he has done the job before at this level.

And while Waerea- Hargreaves was better against England than he was in Perth in the 26- 6 defeat to Australia, he was the least impressive of the Kiwis’ starting pack in Huddersfield.

Blair has been a consistent performer over the past few years.

Eastwood will have a lot to prove. After being mainstay of the team since the turn of the decade, the 29- yearold was the notable omission from the Kiwis tour of England last year.

The 24- test Kiwi returned to the fold in the Anzac test in May in Newcastle but had an underwhelming game, like many of the New Zealand players in the 16- 0 loss.