Wallabies team: Joe Schmidt makes six changes for All Blacks but retains James Slipper for landmark appearance
Joe Schmidt has recalled James O'Connor to the Wallabies starting XV for a match with special significance for James Slipper, inset
Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt has made six changes to his starting team for Saturday’s Rugby Championship match away to the All Blacks in Auckland.
With his team beaten in Round Four by Argentina in Sydney, the head coach has reacted by changing four of his backline and two of his pack for Eden Park.
Harry Potter is recalled for a right wing start with Max Jorgensen switching to full-back and Andrew Kellaway missing out.
Len Ikitau comes in at inside centre for Hunter Paisami. At the same time, there is also a fresh half-back pairing with veteran James O’Connor getting the nod ahead of the benched Tane Edmed and Tate McDermott getting promoted from the subs for the retired Nic White.
“It’s a fitting occasion for James Slipper…”
In the Wallabies pack, there is a revamped second-row pairing with the fit-again Nick Frost starting in place of the benched Jeremy Williams, and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is also named, with Tom Hooper moving to blindside to offset the absence of the injured Rob Valetini.
On the bench, there are changes at hooker and tighthead with Brandon Paenga-Amosa in for Josh Nasser and Allan Alaalatoa in for Zane Nonggorr. Rookie scrum-half Ryan Lonergan is also in line for his Test debut after his inclusion.
A notable landmark in the run-on pack is the retention of loosehead James Slipper, who will become the first player to represent the Wallabies in 150 Test matches.
Having made his international debut as a 21-year-old in 2010 against England, Slipper already holds the record for the most-capped prop in Test rugby history and will join Wales’ Alun Wyn Jones and New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock as just the third player to reach the milestone of 150 Tests.
Wallabies coach Schmidt said: “The squad have worked away this week, fully aware of the challenge that awaits at Eden Park.
“It’s a fitting occasion for James Slipper to reach the milestone of 150 Test matches and for Tate McDermott to represent the Wallabies for the 50th time.”
Wallabies team to face the All Blacks in full
Wallabies: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Corey Toole, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Filipo Daugunu
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 17:05 local (06:05 BST, 05:05 GMT)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (RFU) and Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
