All Blacks team: Scott Robertson gets timely double boost as Beauden Barrett starts for Bledisloe I
Scott Robertson has made four alterations to his matchday 23.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has made four alterations to his matchday 23 for the clash against Australia in the Rugby Championship and first Bledisloe Cup Test at Accor Stadium, Sydney.
New Zealand have been dealt a timely double injury boost ahead for the opening Bledisloe Cup match of the year with Ethan de Groot and Caleb Clarke both named in the squad.
All Blacks team v Wallabies
De Groot returns to start in the front-row having missed both of the Rugby Championship defeats to the Springboks in South Africa with a neck injury. He features alongside hooker Codie Taylor and tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax.
The second-row remains unchanged with Scott Barrett captaining the side and is partnered by Tupou Vaa’i. Following a standout performance in his first start for the All Blacks, Wallace Sititi retains the number six jumper with Sam Cane earning his 99th Test cap on the other flank and Ardie Savea at number eight.
In the backs, Beauden Barrett returns to the starting XV at fullback after coming off the bench in Cape Town while Clarke has recovered from his back injury to take the left wing. Barrett’s return to the number 15 jersey means that Will Jordan moves back to the right wing and Sevu Reece drops to the bench.
Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane are the starting centres once again with Cortez Ratima and Damian McKenzie named at nine and 10, respectively.
There is another change on the bench as Robertson has recalled tighthead Pasilio Tosi, who is in line for his second Test cap after debuting against Fiji in July. He provides front-row cover along with hooker Asafo Aumua and loosehead Tamaiti Williams.
Sam Darry and Luke Jacobson are the other two forwards amongst the replacements as scrum-half TJ Perenara, centre Anton Lienert-Brown and wing Reece complete the bench.
Head coach Robertson believes that he has selected a team with the combinations that have produced the All Blacks best performances this year.
“We have selected an experienced team which has combinations that have played some of our best rugby this season,” he said.
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“The Bledisloe Cup is so revered by both of these teams, we are expecting a classic showdown against our Australian rivals. We have acknowledged the rich history of the Cup this week as a team and recognise that history does not bestow any rights. The Bledisloe Cup is always hard-earned and each year is its own chapter in the Bledisloe story.”
New Zealand will be looking to defend the Bledisloe Cup, a trophy they have held since 2003. A win in the opener against the Wallabies would see them hold onto the Cup for another year as there are just two Test matches between the nations this year and a drawn series sees the existing Bledisloe Cup holder retain the trophy.
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New Zealand team v Australia
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Sevu Reece
Date: Saturday, 21 September
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Damian Schneider (Argentina)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)
Local kick-off: 15:55
GMT kick-off: 5:55
NZL kick-off: 17:55
AUS (AEST) kick-off: 15:55
BST kick-off: 06:55
RSA kick-off: 7:55
ARG kick-off: 2:55
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