Today we find out what changes Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie will make to his side leading up to the second Bledisloe Cup Test on Saturday. Join The Roar for live updates in the lead up to the announcement set for 11:30am (AEST).
Last Saturday saw the Wallabies end a 17-match All Black winning streak, as the teams played out a 12-12 draw at ANZ Stadium.
The creatively uninspiring draw presented many positive points for Ewen McKenzie’s men, and the man at the helm will hope the smallest taste of success against their arch-rivals across the ditch in the opening match will fuel their hunger for a much larger prize: victory at Eden Park.
The All Blacks have won every Test at their fortress since 1986, when Alan Jones’ Wallabies regained the Bledisloe cup in front of the despairing Auckland crowd.
Hardly encouraging statistics, but maybe motivating ones.
The Wallabies will have their work cut out for them in Auckland this Saturday night, but the draw in Sydney will have buoyed their optimism. However, disappointment at falling agonisingly short of reaching the 18-match winning streak will have the All Blacks licking their wounds and eager to prove a point; New Zealand are number one, and for very good reason.
The shortage of ball-in-hand scoring on a cold, wet Sydney evening disappointed many viewers. Not surprisingly, a number of the players voiced their frustration at the tryless draw.
“When the full-time siren went and the game was over I think both sides just sort of looked at each other and said “is that it?’” remarked Wallabies winger Rob Horne. Cue comments about tie-breaking measures.
“I feel like there needs to be a result. 68,000 people turned up to see a result and they didn’t get to see that.
“Whatever it is, extra-time, golden point, a drop goal, kick-offs, whatever, I feel like there needs to be a result, because that’s what we’re in the business of, results.”
The result has prompted much speculation as to Ewen McKenzie’s team selection for the first Bledisloe Cup match, with a number of pundits claiming vindication for their criticism of Waratahs inside centre Kurtley Beale being selected at flyhalf.
However, it was Beale’s right foot, in conjunction with some dogged defending, that sealed the draw for the men in gold. McKenzie would be hard-pressed to ignore this goal-kicking effort, but is it time for Beale to move to inside centre where he was so electric in the Super Rugby season to make room for the measured, purposeful Foley at flyhalf? Or should Matt Toomua get the nod over his New South Wales neighbour?
Wallabies’ Team for Bledisloe 2:
1. James Slipper (vc – Queensland Reds)
2. Nathan Charles (Western Force)
3. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)
4. Sam Carter (ACT Brumbies)
5. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
6. Scott Fardy (ACT Brumbies)
7. Michael Hooper (c – NSW Waratahs)
8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
9. Nic White (ACT Brumbies)
10. Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs)
11. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
12. Matt Toomua (ACT Brumbies)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (vc – NSW Waratahs)
14. Pat McCabe (ACT Brumbies)
15. Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs)Reserves
16. James Hanson (Queensland Reds)
17. Pek Cowan (Western Force)
18. Ben Alexander (ACT Brumbies)
19. Will Skelton (NSW Waratahs)
20. Scott Higginbotham (Melbourne Rebels)
21. Nick Phipps (NSW Waratahs)
22. Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs)
23. Tevita Kuridrani (ACT Brumbies)24th man – Ben McCalman (Western Force)
Join The Roar from 11:00am AEST for live updates and commentary on the Wallabies’ team announcement.
SOS
Guest
Yeah I like that backline a lot and would like to see Izzy move into the centres. JOC or AAC to swap maybe to exploit his boot? Beale, Kuridrani, Horne all good to have as backup too.
Matthew Leon
Guest
Cooper had form for the Reds, just nobody else did. Genia started to get some form
Squirrel
Guest
My wcup backline 9. Genia 10. Foley/ QC whoever better in s15 11.JOC 12. Toomua 13. Folau 14. Speight 15. AAC Can you imagine how many tries AAC and wingers get after Folau breaks
SOS
Guest
I agree with previous posts that one game in poor conditions does not invalidate Link's gameplan or the players charged to execute it. No we didn't win, but we didn't lose either. Eden Park is the litmus test for our selected halves, they can reward Link's faith or be defeated trying. We will know one way or the other what their suitability is for big game tournament rugby. Just over a year to the RWC, this is the main prize, the Bledisloe may be the colonoscopy we have to endure to find out the best treatment for our pool and finals in 2015! Trust me, the temporary pain and discomfort will be worth it once we have Bill.....:)
corporal punishment
Guest
From a Kiwi POV, white seems annoying to play against. very niggly and yappy. Got away with quite a bit on Saturday which seemed to frustrate the ab's and may have led to some penalties against the MIB? certainly he asks the ref for penalties often enough. Like Kerr Barlow he doesn't seem to have a great pass, but seems to be effective in his own way? The wallaby player that stood out for me was slipper. His carries were fantastic in those conditions and created a lot of momentum. The AB props looked apathetic in comparison.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Definition of stupidity: Keep doing the same thing expecting a different outcome. Link needed to shake things up and White/Beale - Phipps/Foley would have been a decent start, allows for a Phipps, Toomua, Foley option too, breaking the line, Skelton for Simmons another, Izzy to 13 and AAC/McCabe to 15. Would freshen/sharpen some minds anyway. Time to step up, Eden Park size steps too, and that includes the off-field crew.
boonzie
Guest
I like both those teams. No TPN ? And higgers needs to work harder. Send him to the tahs for a year and cheika will sort him ! Edit: assuming genia/cooper find form...
Daveski
Guest
Third string
Crug in the cave
Roar Rookie
I can understand EW wants to see this team again, but how can he still favour White, way too many ineffectual box kicks and slow service. And like most on here I believe Beale's better out wider or on bench. My team would be; RWC15 1. Slipper. 1. Sipper 2. Charles. 2. Moore 3. Kepu. 3. Kepu 4. Carter. 4. Carter 5. Simmons. 5. Simmons 6. Higgenbotham. 6. Pocock(c) 7. Hooper (c). 7. Hooper 8. Palu. 8. Palu 9. Phipps. 9. Genia 10. Foley. 10. Cooper 11. Horne. 11. Beale 12. Toomua. 12. Toomua 13. AAC 13. AAC 14. Beale. 14. Speight 15. Folau. 15. Folau 16. Hanson. 16. Charles 17. Cowan. 17. Sio 18. Alexander. 18. Alexander 19. Skelton. 19. Skelton 20. Fardy. 20. Higginbotham 21. White. 21. Phipps 22. Kuridrani. 22. Foley 23. McCabe. 23. JOC
Squirrel
Guest
Id have started Skelton and Simmons, we need dominance at rucks stuff the line outs. I am agreeable though to your other suggestions Fos but I am adamant Skelton is the key to unleash this pack and get go forward momentum that will destroy this overrated ab pack
formeropenside
Guest
Cant do that and carry Skelton on the bench - if Simmons goes down 5 mins in, you either bring on Skelton and know you will have to bring Fardy on for him early in the second half, or put Fardy on early and then Skelton at the end for either Fardy or Higgy (with Fardy moving out to 6 in that case). And if you bring Skelton on early, there goes the lineout, to a large degree. Carrying Skelton in the 23 is actually a big gamble, when you look at the bigger picture. But I guess Link feels he needs to gamble to have a shot at winning back the Bled before Cheika takes his job.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
White had 3 or 4 kicks charged down, a crooked feed, slow service and crabbing when delivering. One of the kicks charged down resulted in an AB's penalty several phases later which netted them 3 points. His confidence was shot and was woeful.
Magic Sponge
Guest
id like to see Higgers over Fardy
ohtani's jacket
Guest
The liabilities were Owen Franks, Wyatt Crockett and Keven Mealamu. Mealamu also had a poor game in the Brisbane draw. With White, if the match had panned out like it did in the first 20 minutes I would agree, but the Wallabies pulled things back together and no-one really had a bad second half.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
You don't think White had a shocker ?? How much worse does he need to be to convince you OJ, he was a liability.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Skelton has to get more time. Wake up Link
Rotuma Island.
Guest
oh i hope they practise there drop goal.
atlas
Guest
No roof. Only covered NZ stadium is the new one in Dunedin, Forsyth Barr
formeropenside
Guest
Genia and Cooper are still out injured for a little while yet.
soapit
Guest
not that surprising. mckenzie will be wanting to see how his first choice team goes in decent conditions before making changes