Australia v NZ: Teams

New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney has named an unchanged team for Saturday's World Cup final against Australia.

Wigan scrum-half Thomas Leuluai will keep the hooking role after impressing on his switch for the semi-final and there is another starting role for South Sydney second rower Bronson Harrison, one of the surprise successes of the tournament.

"The Kangaroos have some wonderful players and they've played some fantastic football during the tournament so far," said Kearney.

"While we know we'll need to be a lot better against Australia, we're excited with the opportunity we have. We don't want to have any regrets on Saturday night."

Skipper Nathan Cayless and second rower Sika Manu both keep their places after avoiding disciplinary action.

Cayless has been cautioned for a high tackle on Warrington forward Adrian Morley during the Kiwis' 32-22 semi-final win over England last Saturday while Manu received a similar warning for a foul on Gareth Ellis.

Players are allowed one caution in the tournament, leaving both men free to line up against the Kangaroos at the Suncorp Stadium.

The Kiwis will be making their third World Cup final appearance but have never lifted the trophy.

Price out

Australia suffered a major injury blow with the loss of veteran prop Steve Price on Friday.

The 33-year-old New Zealand Warriors front row has been ruled out after tearing his left calf muscle at the team's final training session.

Price pulled up suddenly during a routine drill and, after consultation with the team's medical staff, was withdrawn from the squad.

The Kangaroos will announce a replacement on Saturday but are expected to promote Manly prop Brent Kite into the starting line-up and bring in his Sea Eagles' team-mate Josh Perry onto the bench.

Perry, 27, was on the bench for Australia's opening pool matches against New Zealand and England but made way for second rower Craig Fitzgibbon in the last two games.

The Kangaroos received some good news when loose forward Paul Gallen completed training after initially struggling with a "dead leg" and will take his place in the team.

Coach Rickey Stuart has already been forced to make one change to the side that beat Fiji 52-0 last Sunday, with winger David Williams taking the place of the injured Brent Tate.

New Zealand: Lance Hohaia; Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Simon Mannering, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei (NZ Warriors); Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Nathan Fien; Nathan Cayless (Parramatta, capt), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Adam Blair (Melbourne), Daivd Fa'alogo (South Sydney), Bronson Harrison (South Sydney), Jeremy Smith Melbourne).
Subs: Issac Luke (South Sydney), Greg Eastwood (Brisbane), Sam Rapira (NZ Warriors), Sika Manu (Melbourne)

Australia (probable): B Slater (Melbourne); J Monaghan (Canberra), G Inglis (Melbourne), I Folau (Melbourne), D Williams (Manly); D Lockyer (Brisbane, capt), J Thurston (North Queensland); P Civoniceva (Penrith), C Smith (Melbourne), B Kite (Manly), G Stewart (Manly), A Laffranchi (Gold Coast), P Gallen (Cronulla).
Subs: K Hunt (Brisbane), C Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters), A Tupou (Sydney Roosters), J Perry (Manly)