The All Blacks have reinstated Beauden Barrett as the starting fullback for their Rugby Championship test against the Wallabies on Saturday, which is also the first of two Bledisloe Cup matches.
New Zealand is looking to rebound from consecutive defeats to the Springboks, prompting coach Scott Robertson to make four adjustments, one of which is positional, to the starting lineup for the game at Stadium Australia.
With Barrett returning to the number 15 jersey, Will Jordan will shift to the right wing, while Caleb Clarke makes his comeback on the left wing after recovering from an injury. Mark Tele’a will provide back three cover from the bench.
In the front row, loosehead prop Ethan de Groot is back in action and rejoins hooker Codie Taylor and Tyrel Lomax. Tamaiti Williams will move to the bench as de Groot’s backup, alongside tighthead prop Pasilio Tosi, who is set to earn his second cap in place of the injured Fletcher Newell.
New Zealand, having won 11 out of their last 12 encounters against Australia, is anticipated to return to form convincingly this Saturday. The Wallabies last claimed the Bledisloe Cup in 2002.
“We have selected an experienced team with combinations that have delivered some of our best rugby this season,” Robertson stated. “The Bledisloe Cup is held in high regard by both teams, and we anticipate a classic match against our Australian rivals.”
The starting team is as follows: 15-Beauden Barrett, 14-Will Jordan, 13-Rieko Ioane, 12-Jordie Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 10-Damian McKenzie, 9-Cortez Ratima, 8-Ardie Savea, 7-Sam Cane, 6-Wallace Sititi, 5-Tupou Vaa’i, 4-Scott Barrett (captain), 3-Tyrel Lomax, 2-Codie Taylor, 1-Ethan de Groot.
The replacements include: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Sam Darry, 20-Luke Jacobson, 21-TJ Perenara, 22-Anton Lienert-Brown, 23-Sevu Reece.