6 Nov 2009

Foran to make Kiwi's debut

11:43 am on 6 November 2009

Manly's Kieran Foran is set to become the third Toyota Cup player to make his New Zealand test debut in the last month, after replacing the injured Steve Matai at centre for the Kiwi's Four Nations league clash with England on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Foran is the youngest player in the Kiwis' Four Nations squad and made his NRL debut this year, scoring six tries in nine appearances.

Still eligible for the Toyota Cup next year, he has already scored 20 tries in 35 games for Manly's under-20 side in the last two seasons.

Foran's inclusion is the only change to the starting line-up that beat France 62-12 in Toulouse last week.

On the interchange bench, the Melbourne prop Jeff Lima returns from a calf injury to replace utility Greg Eastwood, who has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a broken hand.

Foran will become Kiwi No 757 and is the sixth of the eight newcomers in this squad to make their Test debuts in the last month.

Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs), Junior Sa'u (Newcastle), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly) were given their first Test outings against Tonga in Rotorua in October, while Warriors second rower Ben Matulino began his international career against France last week.