Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has opted for consistency in his Wallabies side to face New Zealand in the third and final Bledisloe Cup clash of the year, making just one forced change to the side which accounted for Argentina two weeks ago.
Rob Simmons has been drafted into the back row in the starting XV in place of the injured Izack Rodda, after the young Queensland lock opted to have surgery on his shoulder earlier in the week.
Simmons’ promotion to the run-on side has freed up a place on the bench, which has been taken by Waratahs youngster Ned Hanigan.
Aside from the forced swap in the back row and bench, the rest of Cheika’s match-day 23 remains unchanged from the Wallabies outfit which finished their Rugby Championship campaign off with a 37-20 win over the Pumas in Argentina.
Simmons will partner fellow lock Adam Coleman behind a front row of Scott Sio, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Sekope Kepu, while skipper Michael Hooper will be joined once again by Jack Dempsey and Sean McMahon in the back row.
In the backs, vice-captains Will Genia and Bernard Foley will direct the side from the halves, with Kurtley Beale and Tevita Kuridrani selected in the centres. Reece Hodge, who was one of the standouts in the Wallabies’ last match against Argentina, has been picked on the wing alongside Marika Koroibete, while Israel Folau will once again slot in at fullback.
The match in Brisbane will be a momentous one for Stephen Moore, with the veteran hooker set to play his final Test on Australian soil in front of his home Brisbane crowd against the All Blacks. Moore’s 125th Test appearance will see him become the ninth most-capped Test player of all time.
The match will also be a notable due to the jerseys worn by the Wallabies; the side will become the first national team in Australian sport to wear an indigenous jersey when they run out on Saturday night.
The Wallabies, who haven’t beaten New Zealand since 2015, have as good an opportunity to grab a victory against New Zealand as they are likely to get anytime soon, with the All Blacks missing a number of key players for the Brisbane Test.
Star playmaker Beauden Barrett, who scored the game-winning try in the thrilling Bledisloe 2 encounter earlier in the year, is out of Saturday night’s match with concussion symptoms, and locks Brodie Retallick and Luke Romano are both unavailable for selection.
1. Scott Sio (38 Tests)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (77 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (86 Tests)
4. Rob Simmons (77 Tests)
5. Adam Coleman (17 Tests)
6. Jack Dempsey (5 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (74 Tests)
8. Sean McMahon (21 Tests)
9. Will Genia (vc) (84 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (vc) (51 Tests)
11. Reece Hodge (19 Tests)
12. Kurtley Beale (66 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (53 Tests)
14. Marika Koroibete (3 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (61 Tests)
Reserves
16. Stephen Moore (124 Tests)
17. Tom Robertson (14 Tests)
18. Allan Alaalatoa (18 Tests)
19. Lukhan Tui (2 Tests)
20. Ned Hanigan (8 Tests)
21. Nick Phipps (57 Tests)
22. Samu Kerevi (13 Tests)
23. Henry Speight (17 Tests)
In: Ned Hanigan
Out: Izack Rodda (injured)
Kick-off on Saturday night is scheduled for 8:05pm (AEDT, 7:05pm local time), and you’ll be able to catch live coverage and highlights of the match right here on The Roar.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Aww, I'm Feeling the love
Fox
Roar Guru
I wouldn't have Hooper over Cane starting - he makes bigger hits in the cintact area that are more damaging - they were one and two on the tackle charts in the RC or close to it I think. I would have Cane starting to bash the opposition in the contact area. Cane is stronger ball carrier in heavy traffic due to his size and upper body strength but Hooper is a jack rabbit for number seven so coming off the bench on 60 minute mark would be my call after Cane has bashed the crap out of them. Cane almost never misses his man either - in fact he has one of the the best %'s going around for tackle success rate at Super Level or International . Hooper is also a superb defender but he does miss a few and some bad ones occasionally near the line - only occasionally but that is where Cane has the edge - his contact work and clean out power is stronger. I mean he is big man Cane.
Fionn
Guest
Good post, Stuart. I think you've displayed more wisdom than I have in any of mine :)
dcnz
Guest
just get it outt wide to Rieko and Waisake, they just need a quarter a metre of space, then its goodnight nurse.
Fox
Roar Guru
I agree with your analysis peterk but the AB bench is much stronger IMO because of it and he may pay the price if it close with 20 to go. Unfortunately, for Cheika there are two or three players on that AB bench who have showed they are getting back to there very best form after being absent through injury. Neholo on the run on side is another. He was superb in his last NPC game and his last hot out for the AB's as well - a total nightmare for his opposition with that top end gas he has. He will need to be shut down quickly. For example, on the bench, Tuipulotu was excellent when he came on against SA and made a serious impact. It has taken a while but he back to the form the saw him one of the most damaging locks in super comp two seasons ago. I expect him to be very damaging in this game as well when he comes on. He is good in the lineout as well as SA found out. I think the AB bench is considerably better IMO for several reasons. Nick Phipps for a start, is not in Pernara's class and Kerevi can be liability in defence, especially if he plays centre and he will because Cheika will want to keep Beale at 12 and then he is up against the guile of Crotty who is currently the best centre in the world IMO - he has no weaknesses in attack or defence and is quicker than anyone gives him credit for over 20 metres. 3 tries in RC alone and considering the top was 6 from memory, that is damn good strike rate for any centre. One try every 2 games and that does include his assists. Kerevi coming on at centre has risks against the rugby brain of Crotty who knows better than anyone how to sucker poor defenders in and Kerevi is not a world class defender at outside centre - he is okay at 12 but not at 13 and like I say- Beale will stay where he is no question about that at all. I think Cheika has made a mistake with his bench even though i agree with your reasoning as to why he has done it. If it very wet, as it might be - then that extra pace Cheika has gone for may well be nullified a bit and he will wish he had Timani etc Spieght's inconsistent defence will be against Ioane or Neholo - that is worry no matter how you dress it up perterk. With 20 to go things could get interesting for the Wallaby D. I mean why would you bring on two suspect defenders off the bench against the AB's - makes no sense to me unless you are hoping their attacking game could win you the game but.......
Archy
Guest
I have entirely lost interest in watching a Waratahs development squad masquerading as the Wallabies.
Fox
Roar Guru
Fair enough Ricardo
Wal
Roar Guru
Almost as the AB's would have done NZ-Arg-SA-Aus-NZ-Aus It adds up to an additional 9+ hours flight time
Fox
Roar Guru
True Peterk but one of my issues with Cheika is it seems to take him too long to figure these things out for an international coach and he has a history of taking too long to figure a lot of things out when comes to selections.
Fox
Roar Guru
Yes Speight has been a disappointed at test level and is bit one dimensional . There are better options and Hodge is doing s decent job on the wing. He has more to his game as well and at least he goes looking for the ball which is trait of any good winger.
Riccardo
Guest
That's the expectation Fox but this season's reality begs to differ. Too many balls/passes going to ground. Getting isolated and turned over or worse penalised. I would argue he is trying and his defense numbers are terrific but he may get that smidgeon of time from the bench in which to execute and get his mojo back. Pretty formidable player to introduce at 55-60 minutes. I stand by my preferred combination...
zubrick
Guest
the all blacks love bernard. his poor lollipop kicking in play and failure to find touch set the mighty counter attack machine in motion leaving unprepared wallaby defence lying face down in the turf when the all black back three see foley launch one you sense something exciting is about to happen im always inspired by this facet of their game...crisp passing deft offloads at pace wonderful to watch when foley does manage to find touch the gain is usually 20 to 30 meters very poor for for an international 10. keeps the pressure on our team yet we put up with it test match after test match
PeterK
Roar Guru
NZ easy win
Fox
Roar Guru
Yeh they are good combination Ricardo but SBW give you that go forward power in traffic which is important and his off-load game is a big x-factor
Fox
Roar Guru
Totally agree Taylorman - he is in another class to Foley because he is a very consistent player. Almost never has a poor game - superb defender of his channel and he is deceptively quick as we have seen many times Also a better tactical kicker than Foley - and a more reliable goal kicker than Foley or Barrett as well I bet he has blinder this weekend as well just quietly.
Riccardo
Guest
Is he Peter? Substitute Barnes for Garces then. Thanks for the heads-up. Got a prediction?
PeterK
Roar Guru
sorry make that 4 players, Hooper over Cane as well.
PeterK
Roar Guru
AB's still have a lot better players and in a merged team I would only have 3 Wallabies out of the named starting teams. Sio, Coleman and Folau (on the wing instead of Naholo). Beale would be contesting with McKenzie for the f/b spot and I would pick McKenzie. If I could swap out starting players I would drop SBW and replace him with Kerevi at 12, his defence is fine at 12.
PeterK
Roar Guru
australia's travel factor South africa / argentina / australia is just as bad
PeterK
Roar Guru
Isn't Barnes the referee?