The All Blacks and the Wallabies take centre stage this weekend, as the two sides are set to clash with the Bledisloe Cup on the line. This Trans-Tasman trophy has a decorated history dating back to 1932, with the All Blacks successfully retaining the cup every time since 2003.
Over 80,000 fans are expected to attend the Melbourne Cricket Ground, for the first All Blacks match at the famous stadium since 2007. Tomorrow’s fixture is the first of a two-match series for the Bledisloe Cup, with the All Blacks and Wallabies set to meet again on August 5th in Dunedin. Should the two match series end in one win each, New Zealand will retain the trophy for another year, stacking the odds against the Wallabies to take home the silverware.
Saturday’s meeting is also the third and final round of the reduced 2023 Rugby Championship competition. Due to the upcoming Rugby World Cup, each side is scheduled to only play each other once, as apposed to the regular home and away fixtures. This puts the Wallabies at risk of a winless Rugby Championship, after a heavy opening defeat to South Africa, and a subsequent closer loss to Argentina.
Here are the team news for this seismic clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, starting off with the Wallabies.
Eddie Jones has made seven changes from the side who were defeated 34-31 by Los Pumas, as he shuffles the deck for this weekend’s battle against the All Blacks. Jones is favouring his young guns for this match, as 22-year-old Melbourne Rebels star Carter Gordon gets the start at fly half over 78-test match veteran Quade Cooper.
Queensland Red halfback Tate McDermott is another high profile change, as the 24-year-old slots in at scrum half in favour of the experienced Nic White. Jordan Petaia makes his long awaited return to the Wallabies midfield, as he has returned to match fitness following a prolonged wrist ligament injury.
Andrew Kellaway is also included in a refreshed Wallabies back-line, as the Rebels flyer is ready to start his first test match of the year, and build towards his Rugby World Cup spot. There are additional changes amongst the forward pack, starting with the omission of Michael Hooper, as Australia’s co-captain takes time out to recover from a calf injury.
Fellow co-captain James Slipper drops to the bench, with 22-year-old Waratahs prop Angus Bell preferred to start the match at loose-head. With both co-captains out of the starting XV, tight-head prop Allan Alaalatoa will take up the mantle of Wallabies captain, due to his experience of leading out the Brumbies this year in Super Rugby.
The All Blacks come to Melbourne with just one change to their starting XV that toppled the Springboks two weeks ago. Regular Captain Sam Cane sits out the Bledisloe Cup clash with a neck strain, with back-row partner Ardie Savea tacking up the captaincy for this fixture.
Cane’s absence opens up a gap in the back-line, with Blues star Dalton Papali’i set to make his 14th test match cap. Versatile Chiefs back-rower Luke Jacobson is called up into the replacements, to cover the loose forwards in what will be a hard-hitting derby match.
All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster has also brought in additional fresh reinforcements on the bench, as the experienced duo of Sam Whitelock and Anton Lienert-Brown look for their first test match action of the year. Prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi also returns following his absence from the Springboks triumph, with Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard hopeful to make his All Blacks test debut off the bench.
“This is a special Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship Test, which doubles as the opening Bledisloe Cup clash of the year,” Foster said. “This trophy means so much to both countries and we expect a massive challenge on Saturday.”
“As the final Rugby Championship Test, there is much at stake in this game,” added Foster. “We have learned a lot from two stern Tests so far this year and there is huge excitement about playing Australia at this iconic ground.”
Australia: 15. Andrew Kellaway 14. Mark Nawaqanitawase 13. Jordan Petaia 12. Samu Kerevi 11. Marika Koroibete 10. Carter Gordon 9. Tate McDermott 1. Angus Bell 2. David Porecki 3. Allan Alaalatoa 4. Nick Frost 5. Will Skelton 6. Jed Holloway 7. Tom Hooper 8. Rob Valentini
Replacements: 16. Jordan Uelese 17. James Slipper 18. Taniela Tupou 19. Richie Arnold 20. Rob Leota 21. Nic White 22. Quade Cooper 23. Izaia Perese.
New Zealand: 15. Beauden Barrett 14. Will Jordan. 13. Rieko Ioane 12. Jordie Barrett 11. Mark Telea 10. Richie Mo’unga 9. Aaron Smith 1. Ethan De Groot 2. Codie Taylor 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Brodie Retallick 5. Scott Barrett 6. Shannon Frizzell 7. Dalton Papali’i 8. Ardie Savea
Replacements: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho 17. Ofa Tu’ungfasi 18. Nepo Laulala 19. Sam Whitelock 20. Luke Jacobson 21. Cam Roigard 22. Anton Lienert-Brown 23. Caleb Clarke