Ardie Savea will captain the All Blacks against the Wallabies this Saturday as captain Scott Barrett has been ruled out of the first Bledisloe Cup test after suffering a shoulder injury.
Savea will lead a run-on side featuring four new faces from the one that started the record-breaking 43-10 loss to the Springboks at Sky Stadium in Wellington two weeks ago.
Fabian Holland will replace the injured skipper at lock at Eden Park in Auckland, while Codie Taylor and Cam Roigard have returned from injuries to reclaim their places as the All Blacks’ first-choice hooker and halfback.
Caleb Clarke will start on the left wing and make his first All Blacks appearance of the year with Leroy Carter shifting to the right for his second test and Will Jordan returning to fullback.
Damian McKenzie therefore drops to the bench, where Cortez Ratima has returned from injury to be the reserves halfback.
Patrick Tuipulotu’s return from injury allows him to fill the hole on the bench left by Holland’s promotion, while Peter Lakai has been preferred to Du’Plessis Kirifi as loose forward cover and will be eyeing his first cap in 2025.
Hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho drops to the bench with Brodie McAlister joining Kirifi and utility back Ruben Love in falling out of the matchday 23 entirely.
All Blacks coach, Scott Robertson says with all teams being two from four in this Rugby Championship, they all have everything to play for in these final two rounds.
He says they are preparing for a strong Australian side and understand the importance of this match and the Bledisloe Cup.
The All Blacks have gone 51 matches without losing at Eden Park, a run that stretches back to 1994 and a defeat against France.
They held off a fast-finishing Springboks side to win 24-17 when they last played there at the start of this month.
The Wallabies haven’t won on New Zealand soil since 2001 and have lost their last nine matches against the All Blacks.
They haven’t won at Eden Park since 1986.
The Bledisloe Cup has resided in New Zealand since 2003.
The All Blacks play the Wallabies at 5.05pm this Saturday.
All Blacks: Will Jordan, Leroy Carter, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard, Wallace Sititi, Ardie Savea (c), Simon Parker, Tupou Vaa’i, Fabian Holland, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot; Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Cortez Ratima, Quinn Tupaea, Damian McKenzie
The Wallabies will name their team tomorrow afternoon.
source : stuff.co.nz
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