By Rich Cowley, Updated: 14/11/17 (Photo Credit NRLPhotos)
Teams: New Zealand Kiwis v Fiji Bati
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, New Zealand
Date: November 18th 2017
TV Kick-off time: 7.30pm NZDT (Local Time)
Australia Kick-off time Sydney / Melbourne: Saturday, 18 November 2017 at 5:30:00 pm AEDT
Australia Kick-off time Brisbane: (Australia – Queensland) Saturday, 18 November 2017 at 4:30:00 pm AEST
Fiji Kick-off time: Suva (Fiji) Saturday, 18 November 2017 at 7:30:00 pm FJST
2017 RLWC TV viewing information: Channel 7 will broadcast all RLWC games in Australia on Free to Air TV and the 7mate App. BBC Will broadcast RLWC games across the UK. Sky Sports will Broadcast all RLWC matches in New Zealand. Fiji TV will Broadcast all matches RLWC matches across the Pacific Islands. EM TV will broadcast all RLWC matches across PNG. Astro will broadcast all RLWC matches across Malaysia. PCCW will broadcast all RLWC matches across Hong Kong. DAZN will broadcast all RLWC matches across Japan. OSN Sports will broadcast all matches across the Middle East. Fox Sports will broadcast all matches across the United States.
Overview: On Saturday afternoon the second quarter final gets underway when the New Zealand Kiwis take on the Fiji Bati in Wellington. New Zealand finished second in Pool B while Fiji finished top of Pool D.
The New Zealand Kiwis are two from three going into this Quarter Finals clash on Saturday after defeating Samoa 38 – 8 and Scotland 74 – 6. The Kiwis are the first big casualty from the rise of the Pacific Nations after going down to Tonga 22 – 28 in their last Pool match in Hamilton. Tonga’s upset win has thrown the Rugby League World Cup organisers plans into disarray with the Kiwis now missing out on the possibility of a home Semi Final. Look for the Kiwis to come out firing as they look to get their Rugby League World Cup campaign back on track . If New Zealand win they will book a Semi Final place at Suncorp Stadium against either Australia or Samoa.
The Fiji Bati are undefeated in Pool D after defeating the USA 58 – 12, Wales 72 – 6 and Italy 38 – 10. This is going to be Fiji’s biggest challenge to date coming up against a Kiwi team that has just come off a unexpected lost. Fiji made it through to the Semi Finals of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and if they win will once again meet Australia in a World Cup Semi Final. That is of course if Samoa don’t cause an upset. The Bati have a team full of try scoring talent which have racked up 168 points so far. The Bati will be looking to outscore the Kiwis in what is set to be another World Cup classic.
Referee: Matt Cecchin
Touch Judges: Chris Kendall, Michael Wise
Video Referee: Bernard Sutton
New Zealand Kiwis v Fiji Bati teams 2017 RLWC Quarter Finals
New Zeland Kiwis 2017 RLWC Squad:
1 Roger TUIVASA-SHECK
2 Dallin WATENE-ZELEZNIAK
3 Dean WHARE
4 Bradley TAKAIRANGI
5 Jordan RAPANA
6 Te Maire MARTIN
7 Shaun JOHNSON
8 Martin TAUPAU
9 Danny LEVI
10 Jared WAEREA-HARGREAVES
11 Simon MANNERING
12 Joseph TAPINE
13 Adam BLAIR (c)
14 Nelson ASOFA-SOLOMONA
15 Russell PACKER
16 Isaac LIU
17 Kodi NIKORIMA
18 Kenny BROMWICH
19 Jason NIGHTINGALE
20 Peta HIKU
21 Addin FONUA-BLAKE
Fiji Bati 2017 RLWC Squad:
1 Kevin NAIQAMA (c)
2 Suliasi VUNIVALU
3 Taane MILNE
4 Akuila UATE
5 Marcelo MONTOYA
6 Jarryd HAYNE
7 Henry RAIWALUI
8 Ashton SIMS
9 Apisai KOROISAU
10 Eloni VUNAKECE
11 Viliame KIKAU
12 Brayden WILIAME
13 Tui KAMIKAMICA
14 Joe LOVODUA
15 Jacob SAIFITI
16 Junior ROQICA
17 Ben NAKUBUWAI
18 James STORER
19 Salesi FAINGAA
20 Sitiveni MOCEIDREKE
21 Pio SOKOBALAVU
