Sports Rugby-Union

Beauden Barrett ruled out of Bledisloe Cup opener

Beauden Barrett ruled out of Bledisloe Cup opener
All Blacks fullback Beauden Barrett.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has been forced into a late change for the Bledisloe Cup clash with Australia, withdrawing fullback Beauden Barrett.

The star Blues playmaker is out with an achilles injury, with Damian McKenzie coming in to start in his place.

Foster's decision to draft in McKenzie is a surprising one, given the 25-year-old was not in the 23-man squad for this afternoon's Test at Wellington's Sky Stadium.

Captain Sam Cane, who will lead the All Blacks for the first time as appointed skipper said they weren't banking on a win.

Despite the drama, the All Blacks will start healthy favourites against the Wallabies, who are without a win over New Zealand on Kiwi soil for 19 years.

The All Blacks host the Wallabies in Wellington in the first Bledisloe Cup clash at 3 o’clock this afternoon.

[Source: TVNZ Sports]

FNRL

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
LIVE SCORES
Crusaders vs Chiefs 7:05PM
Hurricanes vs Blues 7:05PM
Rabbitohs 14–28 Sea Eagles 9:05PM
Knights 30–32 Storm Full Time
Raiders 0–26 Roosters Full Time
Fijiana 12–24 France Full Time
Fiji 14–17 USA Full Time
New Zealand 19–26 Australia Full Time
Maroons 20–22 Blues Full Time
Maroons vs Blues 10:05PM
Maroons vs Blues 10:05PM
Mexico vs South Africa 2:00pm
South Korea vs Czechia 2:00pm
Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina 7:00am