LIVE on Sky Sport: Saturday 21 September: All Blacks vs Australia, 5.45PM (NZST).
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets)
1. Ethan de Groot (26)
2. Codie Taylor (91)
3. Tyrel Lomax (38)
4. Scott Barrett (74) (Captain)
5. Tupou Vaa’i (32)
6. Wallace Sititi (3)
7. Sam Cane (98)
8. Ardie Savea (88) (Vice Captain)
9. Cortez Ratima (6)
10. Damian McKenzie (54)
11. Caleb Clarke (23)
12. Jordie Barrett (64) (Vice Captain)
13. Rieko Ioane (75)
14. Will Jordan (35)
15. Beauden Barrett (130)
16. Asafo Aumua (12)
17. Tamaiti Williams (12)
18. Pasilio Tosi (1)
19. Sam Darry (4)
20. Luke Jacobson (22)
21. TJ Perenara (85)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (77)
23. Sevu Reece (28)
Unavailable due to injury: Fletcher Newell (calf), Ruben Love (quadricep).
There are four changes to the All Blacks starting team named to play the Wallabies in Sydney and two in the reserves.
In the forwards, Ethan de Groot has returned from his neck injury to start at loosehead prop, while Pasilio Tosi will prepare to play just his second All Blacks test match, having debuted off the bench against Fiji in San Diego earlier in the season.
In the backs, it is a return of the back three that helped to create a lot of attacking momentum against the Springboks in Johannesburg and against Argentina in their second test. Caleb Clarke has recovered from his back injury to take the left wing; Will Jordan will take the other wing and Beauden Barrett will start at fullback.
All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson said:
“We have selected an experienced team which has combinations that have played some of our best rugby this season.
“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.”
MATCH FACTS
Introduced in 1931, the Bledisloe Cup is named after New Zealand’s Governor-General at the time, Lord Bledisloe, who donated the trophy.
New Zealand won the inaugural encounter in 1932 and has gone on to win the Bledisloe Cup 51 times, compared to Australia’s 12.
Australia last held the Bledisloe Cup in 2002, after beating the All Blacks 16-14 in Sydney.
There have been 10 series draws across the history of the Bledisloe Cup. A series draw would see the existing Bledisloe Cup holder retain the trophy.
Sydney also played host to the first test match between New Zealand and Australia, in 1903. The visitors took the win on that occasion, 22-3.
With 177 encounters in total, the New Zealand – Australia rivalry is one the most played of any two international rugby union teams.