Shaun Johnson and Brandon Smith have been recalled by the New Zealand Kiwis for Saturday’s second Test against the Great Britain Lions at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch (8.00pm kick-off).

Johnson comes back in at standoff replacing the injured Kieran Foran while Smith, stood down last week, returns at hooker as the Kiwis seek a series-clinching win after taking out last Saturday’s first Test 12-8 at Eedn Park.

Kodi Nikorima, brought in at the 11th hour to replace Smith, moves to the interchange after his heroic performance in Auckland.

Despite arriving in camp late on Friday night and not training with the side, Nikorima was on the field for 76 minutes, making a game-high 53 tackles.

In another change, rookie international Corey Harawira-Naera is named in the second row for Kenny Bromwich, who returned to Melbourne on Sunday to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. Bromwich is on an extended bench should he be able to return in time for the second Test.

Added to the bench in Harawira-Naera’s place is the experienced Kevin Proctor.

The Kiwis go into the contest hunting their first series victory against Great Britain since 1998.

 

NEW ZEALAND KIWIS v GREAT BRITAIN LIONS

8.00pm, Saturday, November 9, 2019

Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch

 

NEW ZEALAND KIWIS

 

1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK

(Vodafone Warriors)

2 KEN MAUMALO

(Vodafone Warriors)

3 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD

(Canberra Raiders)

4 JOSEPH MANU

(Sydney Roosters)

5 JAMAYNE ISAAKO

(Brisbane Broncos)

6 SHAUN JOHNSON

(Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

7 BENJI MARSHALL (c)

(Wests Tigers)

8 ZANE TETEVANO

(Sydney Roosters)

9 BRANDON SMITH

(Melbourne Storm)

10 JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES

(Sydney Roosters)

11 BRITON NIKORA

(Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

12 COREY HARAWIRA-NAERA

(Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

13 JOSEPH TAPINE

(Canberra Raiders)

  Interchange:
14 KODI NIKORIMA

(Vodafone Warriors)

15 KEVIN PROCTOR

(Gold Coast Titans)

16 LEESON AH MAU

(Vodafone Warriors)

17 ADAM BLAIR

(Vodafone Warriors)

18 JAHROME HUGHES

(Melbourne Storm)

19 BRADEN HAMLIN-UELE

(Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

20 KENNY BROMWICH

(Melbourne Storm)

21 BAILEY SIMONSSON

(Canberra Raiders)

22 ISAIAH PAPALI’I

(Vodafone Warriors)

 

HEAD COACH | MICHAEL MAGUIRE

 

 

NEW ZEALAND KIWIS | GREAT BRITAIN LIONS SERIES

 

Player Club Kiwi No Tests for NZ
LEESON AH MAU Vodafone Warriors 812 8
ADAM BLAIR Vodafone Warriors 732 50
KENNEATH BROMWICH Melbourne Storm 796 10
KIERAN FORAN Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 757 22
BRADEN HAMLIN UELE Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 822 1
COREY HARAWIRA-NAERA Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 823 2
JAHROME HUGHES Melbourne Storm 819 3
JAMAYNE ISAAKO Brisbane Broncos 808 4
SHAUN JOHNSON Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 774 31
JOSEPH MANU Sydney Roosters 815 7
BENJI MARSHALL Wests Tigers 717 30
KEN MAUMALO Vodafone Warriors 810 8
CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD Canberra Raiders 820 2
BRITON NIKORA Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 818 3
KODI NIKORIMA Vodafone Warriors 793 14
ISAIAH PAPALI’I Vodafone Warriors 817 1
KEVIN PROCTOR Gold Coast Titans 771 21
BAILEY SIMONSSON Canberra Raiders
BRANDON SMITH Melbourne Storm 816 6
JOSEPH TAPINE Canberra Raiders 800 11
ZANE TETEVANO Sydney Roosters 821 2
ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK Vodafone Warriors 779 19
JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES Sydney Roosters 755 31