By Milly McEvoy 

Lindsay Collins will follow in the footsteps of grandfather Lionel Williamson when he makes his Test debut for Australia against Scotland on Friday. 

The 26-year-old has been named among the interchange players with head coach Mal Meninga handing first caps to five players in the starting XIII. 

Isaah Yeo will take over the reins as vice-captain, with James Tedesco continuing as skipper having led the Kangaroos to a 42-8 win over Fiji in their opener. 

Scotland have also named their squad as they look to secure a first win at Rugby League World Cup 2021 after suffering a 28-4 defeat to Italy in their first game of Group B. 

Halifax Panthers’ Lachlan Walmsley keeps his place having scored a late consolation try for the Bravehearts against the Azzuri. 

Australia: 1 James Tedesco (c), 9 Josh Addo-Carr, 12 Matt Burton, 10 Jack Wighton, 19 Campbell Graham, 7 Cameron Munster, 14 Nathan Cleary, 6 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 20 Harry Grant, 13 Patrick Carrigan, 17 Angus Crichton, 21 Liam Martin, 24 Isaah Yeo; 3 Ben Hunt, 15 Lindsay Collins, 4 Valentine Holmes, 5 Jake Trbojevic + 2 Daly Cherry-Evans, 22 Jeremiah Nanai 

READ MORE: Five things we learned as Australia start title defence in style

Scotland: 11. Euan Aitken, 15. Luke Bain, 8. Logan Bayliss-Brown, 13. James Bell, 4. Kieran Buchanan, 20. Davey Dixon, 24. Dale Ferguson, 19. Calum Gahan, 6. Bailey Hayward, 3. Ben Hellewell, 9. Liam Hood, 12. Kane Linnett, 23. Bayley Liu, 10. Sam Luckley, 2. Matty Russell, 14. Kyle Schneider, 18. Jack Teanby, 22. Alex Walker, 5. Lachlan Walmsley

READ MORE: Scotland 4-28 Italy: Maizen hat-trick takes Azzurri home

Head-to-head 

Australia and Scotland are yet to meet in a World Cup and have only faced off once before in the 2016 Four Nations, with the Kangaroos emerging 54-12 winners. 

Stand-off James Maloney scored 18 points for Australia while Ryan Brierley and Ben Kavanagh crossed for the Bravehearts. 

Fun fact 

Ben Hellewell and Matty Russell will become Scotland’s joint-leading appearance holders at a men’s Rugby League World Cup as they play their ninth World Cup game, overtaking Danny Brough.

Australia record 

With victory over Fiji in the first round, Australia equalled their own record for the longest winning run by a men’s team in the Rugby League World Cup.

Victory over Scotland would be their 14th in succession and would beat that record set between 1995 and 2008. 

Their defeat of Fiji Bati marked their first win of the new decade, their last match before that a 16-12 loss to Tonga in the 2019 Oceania Cup. 

Scotland record 

Scotland lost their streak of three international matches unbeaten with defeat to Italy in Newcastle.

They are yet to win back-to-back matches at the World Cup, coming closest in 2013 when they followed a 26-24 defeat of Tonga with a 30-30 draw with the Azzurri. 

Players to watch 

• Josh Addo-Carr scored twice in Australia’s win over Fiji on World Cup debut having run in 16 tries in 23 appearances for the Bulldogs in the NRL in 2022. 
• Euan Aitken will come up against the country of his birth as he represents Scotland. The centre has joined the Dolphins in the NRL for the 2023 season having previously played for the New Zealand Warriors. 

The Rugby League World Cup promises to be the biggest, best and most inclusive event in the sport’s 127-year history with men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams competing in 61 games across 21 venues throughout England. Tickets are available via rlwc2021.com/tickets