All Blacks team: Dave Rennie forced into changes as snubbed star returns in overhauled bench for second Bledisloe
Du’Plessis Kirifi is set to earn his first appearance for the All Blacks this year having only joined the squad as injury cover earlier in the week.
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has made eight changes to his matchday 23 for the second Bledisloe Cup Test match against Australia.
New Zealand defended the trophy for the 24th consecutive year by beating the Wallabies 50-19 at Eden Park last weekend, which has allowed the head coach to make alterations this week.
Dave Rennie rings the changes
The only change to the starting All Blacks backline that beat Australia is Josh Moorby replacing the injured Leroy Carter on the left wing after the former came off the bench in Auckland. He joins fellow winger Will Jordan in the back-three with Beauden Barrett retained at full-back.
In the centres, Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea combine once again whilst Damian McKenzie starts at first-five and Cam Roigard at scrum-half.
There are no changes to the starting loose forwards either, with Tupou Vaa’i continuing at blindside flanker and joined by openside Peter Lakai and number eight Wallace Sititi.
Fabian Holland replaces Josh Lord in the second row after the former was surprisingly omitted last weekend. He partners Scott Barrett in the engine room with the only other change to the run-on back sees George Bower start at loosehead prop ahead of Ethan de Groot.
Codie Taylor captains the team from hooker, with Fletcher Newell rounding out the starting front row.
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Rennie has made further changes on the bench with hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, prop Xavier Numia, loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi, half-back Cortez Ratima and midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai coming into the 23 as reserves, alongside prop Pasilio Tosi, loose forward Shannon Frizell and outside back Rieko Ioane, the latter trio all retaining their roles from last weekend.
It will be Kirifi’s first Test appearance for the All Blacks this year, having only joined the squad as injury cover after the victory at Eden Park.
“Last week was a big week, with it being our first game back on New Zealand soil after a long tour away and the Bledisloe Cup on the line. We put in a performance befitting the occasion,” Rennie said. “Now we need to back that performance up.”
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“The Wallabies are a proud side and they’ll be hurting after last week. It’s a great challenge for us to now face them in front of their home crowd in Sydney.”
All Blacks team for Bledisloe II
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Shannon Frizell, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Rieko Ioane
Unavailable due to injury: Leroy Carter (ankle); Anton Segner (concussion); Asafo Aumua (concussion); Ethan Blackadder (calf); Richie Mo’unga (calf); Fehi Fineanganofo (hamstring).
Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 15:45 (local AEDT), 05:45 (UK), 06:45 (France), 06:45 (South Africa), 15:45 (AEDT), 17:45 (New Zealand), 01:45 (Argentina), 13:45 (JST), 00:45 (EDT)
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU) and Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Broadcasters: Nine Network / Stan Sport (Australia), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Sky Sports (United Kingdom & Ireland), SuperSport (South Africa / Africa), Canal+ (France / Andorra / Monaco / Luxembourg), FloSports (USA), TSN (Canada), ESPN (Argentina / South America), Wowow (Japan), Sky Italia (Italy), Premier Sports (much of Asia), Digicel / Sky Pacific (Pacific Islands)
