Bledisloe Cup: Australia take on New Zealand in Brisbane
Last Updated: 17/10/14 9:59pm
There may no longer be any silverware to play for but the Bledisloe Cup clash in Brisbane on Saturday will be anything but a ‘dead rubber’.
The two sides shared an opening 12-12 draw in Australia back in August before the Wallabies were thrashed 51-20 in New Zealand to surrender the series.
While the All Blacks have already got the Bledisloe Cup safely tucked away in the NZRU trophy cabinet for yet another year, they will be looking to bounce back to winning ways after their 27-25 defeat to South Africa in the Rugby Championship earlier this month.
That last-minute loss ended a 22-Test unbeaten streak for the world champions.
In response, coach Steve Hansen has rung the changes, with second row Brodie Retallick fit to return after recovering from concussion, while Liam Messam, Wyatt Crockett and Dane Coles will also start for the All Blacks.
Messam starts ahead of Jerome Kaino, Crockett comes in for Joe Moody, who made his debut against the Boks, while Coles is chosen ahead of Keven Mealamu.
There is one change in the backline with Cory Jane coming in on the right wing for Ben Smith, who is rested.
But Aaron Cruden remains out of the 23-man squad having been dropped for the last two games of the Rugby Championship after missing a flight to Argentina.
There are also changes among the substitutes with Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara and Charles Piutau all joining the squad.
Coach Hansen made no mention of Cruden's snub in a statement announcing the team but said the All Blacks were smarting after the South Africa defeat and determined to make amends against the Wallabies.
"There were some aspects of our game in the loss to South Africa that we weren't happy with and we have worked hard on addressing those this week," he said.
Changes
Australia go into the clash on the back of away defeats to South Africa and then Argentina – handing the Pumas a first-ever win in the Rugby Championship.
Coach Ewen McKenzie has recalled Christian Lealiifano to fill a void in the Wallabies' midfield created by injuries and Kurtley Beale's suspension.
Matt Toomua is ruled out after suffering concussion while Beale, his likely replacement, is unavailable while the Australian Rugby Union investigates his clash with a team official and allegations he sent lewd text messages.
Lealiifano is one of two changes from the starting line-up that lost 21-17 in Mendoza, with Rob Simmons returning from injury to start at lock in place of James Horwill.
McKenzie has also added some experience to the bench with the return of Quade Cooper.
"We can definitely improve on (the loss to New Zealand at) Eden Park. With the turnover situation, we gifted them a bunch of tries there. We had a couple of tries under the yellow card, so we can definitely do better than that no question," McKenzie said.
"If we can get it right this weekend, we have an undefeated domestic season. I look at the game and say there's an opportunity to square the series, too," he said.
"Maybe the trophy is not there, but when there are things on offer, it's a question of who stands up."
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps; 1 James Slipper, 2 Saia Fainga'a, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Sam Carter, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 8 Scott Higginbotham.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 James Horwill, 20 Matt Hodgson, 21 Nic White, 22 Quade Cooper, 23 Rob Horne.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith; 1 Wyatt Crockett, 2, Dane Coles, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5, Sam Whitelock, 6 Liam Messam, 7 Richie McCaw 8 Kieran Read.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Sam Cane, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Charles Piutau.
Watch New Zealand v Australia live on Sky Sports 2 on Saturday, with coverage from 10am.