Kiwis ANZAC Test Team Has Potential to Be Best Ever

New Zealand have never had a better pool of players to choose from for an ANZAC Test. While teams of other years have had their share of stars, none can claim to possess the depth of the 2015 edition.

Fresh off the back of victory in the Four Nations tournament at the end of last year, this Kiwis team will be out to prove that their win last year was not a fluke. Many Australians pointed to the fact that a handful of their best players were unavailable for the tournament. While that is true, this is a good Kiwis team who should not be underestimated, even against a full-strength Kangaroos line-up.

There is depth everywhere.

Starting up front you have five world-class props. Jesse Bromwich is an automatic selection to start, an explosive runner who works hard and really came into his own last year. Along with him, you have the Sydney Roosters pairing of Sam Moa and Jared Warea-Hargreaves, Wests Tigers sensation Martin Taupau and Warriors hard man Ben Matulino.

It would be a surprise if all four of those men joined Bromwich in the side, although there is probably room for three. Martin Taupau impressed with the team in last year's Four Nations and has been one of the form players in this year's NRL. He throws himself around and makes an impact every time he goes into contact. You could argue he deserves to start, but he would be even more effective coming off the bench to make an impact. Either way, he has to be there.

Sam Moa has to be there too. A strong runner who always makes metres and provides go-forward, he is reliable and has been an underrated member of a strong Roosters team over the past couple of years. Give him the other starting position.

That leaves Warea-Hargreaves and Matulino. Warea-Hargreaves hits hard and makes a huge impact, but discipline is an issue with him. Matulino, meanwhile, is in good form, carrying the ball strongly, making his tackles and possessing better ball skills. He should get the final bench spot, as Warea-Hargreaves' form has not translated to the test arena in the past.

Isaac Luke will be the hooker, defensively a hard worker and an explosive runner on attack, while Thomas Leuluai provides handy back-up for both Luke and the two halves on the bench.

The second row and lock positions are full of talent, too, perhaps even more so than at prop. Simon Mannering is another automatic selection, a relentless worker who makes tackle after tackle and is unerringly consistent. Jason Taumalolo should get a start, too; his speed, footwork and flair provide contrast.

Elijah Taylor, Kevin Proctor and Tohu Harris will fight out for the final starting spot, while the two unsuccessful men will fight for the final bench spot. Proctor has to find his way in somewhere, a physical player who was outstanding for the Kiwis last year. Harris and Taylor are both in top form, though, and whichever combination they choose, you can bet it will match the Australians. Greg Eastwood deserves a mention, too, although he will find it tough breaking back into the team with Taylor back in the picture, as will Alex Glenn.

The backline is looking for more solidity than it has had in past years, too.

Shaun Johnson and Kieran Foran will be the halves. Johnson lit up the Four Nations last year, with his speed, side-step and elusiveness proving too much for everyone. He has been out of sorts for most of 2015, but there were signs last weekend that he is getting back to his best.

In Foran, he is partnered by arguably the world's best specialist No. 6, a physical five-eighth whose organizational and kicking skills are up there with the best.

They hold off a resurgent Benji Marshall, who has rediscovered some form, although he no longer holds quite the same spark that made him a must-have throughout the late 2000s. Leuluai will get the bench spot ahead of Marshall, as he has the ability to cover hooker as well.

Dean Whare is a near-certainty to be one centre. Probably the most underrated player in his position in the NRL, Whare poses a threat by running good lines off the ball, is solid on defence and makes few mistakes.

His partner will likely be the strong-running Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who provides a further attacking weapon, although has also been exposed with poor technique on defence in recent times.

Jason Nightingale is a lock for one wing; his consistency, skill level and reliable finishing ability make him the best option there. The other wing is perhaps a weakness, but going by past selections, it seems likely it will be formed by Warriors big man Manu Vatuvei. Vatuvei on his day is a match-winner, a big, strong finisher who also comes in and does work early in the set. However, he is error-prone and can get lost on defence, so from that perspective, he can also lose you a match.

The fullback without question will be Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who will return to the side after being injured for last year's Four Nations. Arguably the form outside back in the NRL, Tuivasa-Sheck provides a genuine threat on attack with his searing pace and seamless side-step. He beats out Peta Hiku and Josh Hoffman for the spot with relative ease.

That is a strong team, with quality players all over the park. Indeed, there will be quality players not on the park too, something of a rarity over the past 15 years for New Zealand teams.

This year's ANZAC Test will be a big one, with 2015 marking 100 years since the Gallipoli massacre, the focal point when New Zealand and Australia remember their war victims on ANZAC Day every year. The two nations have met for an annual game of rugby league around the time of ANZAC Day since 1997, with a three-year hiatus from 2001 till 2003.

Thus far, the Australians have dominated the fixture, dropping just one game and handing their rivals a few drubbings. The Kiwis are often hampered by injuries and seemingly unfair suspensions around this time of year, though, which means they are so often nowhere near full strength.

A few weeks out from game day, this team is not experiencing these problems and looks set to give the Kangaroos their toughest ANZAC Test for many, many years.