Cortez Ratima during an All Blacks training session at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney. Photo / Photosport

'Best balance': Robertson on changes to All Blacks team

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Author: Cameron McMillan & Will Toogood,
Publish Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2024, 9:19am

The All Blacks have made four changes to their starting line-up ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney against the Wallabies from the 18-12 loss to the Springboks in Cape Town.

The big change comes in the back three. Will Jordan moves to the wing so that Beauden Barrett can take up the fullback jersey and Caleb Clarke has recovered a back injury from injury to slot in on the other wing, with Sevu Reece moving to the bench and Mark Tele’a omitted from the squad.

Ethan de Groot also returns from an injury to start at loosehead prop, while a second test cap beckons for Pasilio Tosi after he picked up his first against Fiji in San Diego.

Front-rower Fletcher Newell (calf) and outside back Ruben Love (quadricep) are both unavailable to injury.

“We have selected an experienced team which has combinations that have played some of our best rugby this season,” Scott Robertson said.

“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.”

All Blacks v Wallabies, Rugby Championship test, 5.45pm, Saturday, Accor Stadium, Sydney

All Blacks v Australia history

Played 177

All Blacks won 124

Australia 45

Drawn 8

All Blacks points 3928

Australia points 2563

The All Blacks have won seven straight against the Wallabies, their last defeat back in 2020. New Zealand’s longest winning streak against Australia is 10. They have played 21 times at Sydney’s Accor Stadium (formerly Stadium Australia, Telstra Stadium and ANZ Stadium) of which the All Blacks have won 13. Australia haven’t beaten the All Blacks at the stadium since 2015. Their last meeting at the stadium was a record 43-5 win for the All Blacks.

The Wallabies are coming off a record 67-27 defeat to Argentina, while the All Blacks have lost three of their past four tests.

All Blacks v Australia line-ups

All Blacks

Team named Thursday, 9am.

Australia

Team named Thursday.

All Blacks v Australia form guide (last five tests)

All Blacks: L, L, W, L, W

Australia: L, W, L, L, W

All Blacks v Australia referee

Karl Dickson of England will hold the whistle. He has been in charge of three All Blacks games previously, all wins for New Zealand (2021 – All Blacks 47 Italy 9, 2022 – All Blacks 42 Ireland 19, 2023 – All Blacks 23 Wallabies 20).