Jack Goodhue has won the contentious outside centre berth in a near-full strength All Blacks team to face the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney.
In one of the few dilemmas for coach Steve Hansen, rising star Goodhue will play his second Test in the Bledisloe Cup opener on Saturday, seeing off the more accomplished Anton Lienert Brown.
Hansen has stuck closely to the team who whitewashed France 3-0 in June, although he sprung a minor surprise in the outside backs.
It was expected he would restore Jordie Barrett to fullback and shift Ben Smith to the right wing, as happened in the first two French Tests.
However, Smith starts in his specialist fullback berth, with Highlanders teammate Waisake Naholo out wide.
The only other changes from Hansen’s strongest side against France are the return from injury of captain Kieran Read at No.8 and lock Brodie Retallick.
The Test will be the 100th for lock Sam Whitelock, making him New Zealand’s eighth centurion.
His 25th Test against Australia will make Whitelock the first All Blacks second-rower to raise three figures.
At the other end of his career is Crusaders teammate Goodhue, whose sharp form for the Super Rugby champions has helped him win the midfield berth left vacant by the injured Sonny Bill Williams.
Another Crusader, Ryan Crotty, shifts to inside centre, making way for a player who assistant coach Ian Foster agreed looked composed when introduced for the third Test against France.
“He came through a Super Rugby campaign where he was used extremely physically in the first part of the championship and then I think as it wore on he was able to play a little bit wider and a little bit how we would expect a centre to play,” Foster said.
“He’s got the ability to do both.”
The only players missing from potentially New Zealand’s strongest side are Williams and injured hooker Dane Coles.
Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Liam Squire, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody.
Reserves: Nathan Harris, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Bobo the Clown
Guest
We win yes..easy.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Thats interesting Ben, wasnt sure we he sat in the propping hierarchy being a back (often why I dont pick XV's cos I'm bound to carelessly stick a loosehead at tighthead and bang, the thuinder will rain down on me... :-)
Fionn
Guest
Yeah, that bloke is deadly. I actually wondered during the RC last year if he might force his way into being the ABs first choice tighthead.
Dreaming Rugby
Roar Rookie
Certainly looking forward to seeing the match - NZ starting side is a good mix of experience and next generation - we can only hope they are being too cautious and the home crowd advantage kicks in - Australia will need luck to go their way - Read and Retallick remain the key points of difference to my mind.
Sylvester
Guest
One of those missed tackles appeared to be caused by a lack of trust in SBW. He would have learnt from that, and obviously with Crotty it's less likely to be an issue.
Cantab
Guest
Yeah I agree that he has had a brilliant year. Easily his bests super rugby level. I’m just not won over yet as I don’t think he’s offered much in prior seasons. More than happy to be proven wrong.
Dennis Hopper Jr
Guest
I don't find the selection of Goodhue strange, quite the opposite. The medium sized Crotty/ALB midfield got targeted by the French heavy runners in Test 2 and struggled to stop them on the advantage line. Test 3, enter SBW and Goodhue and Hansen has obviously liked what Goodhue achieved on debut. Add in the Crotty/Goodhue combo proving itself to be the premiere defensive combo for 2 (winning) Super seasons, no surprise at all that Hansen has gone this way. When SBW returns, I reckon we will see midfield rotations that give all five midfielders starts, bench and rest but am predicting Crotty and Goodhue will be together for Bled I & II. Odds are ALB and Goodhue will be the first choice midfield by 2020.
StevieB
Guest
Watch the last time they played australia, there were a few bad games from some players but Crotty was the worst player on the park, even he admitted it after the game, had an absolute shocker, missed around 8 tackles, in tight test matches you need a point of difference, x-factor in at leaat 1 of your players, a moment of brilliance from nothing Sadly these 2 midfielders both dont have that attribute
Jacko
Guest
Crotty wouldnt be self assessing tho Cantab......i think the ABs doctors take them all seriously and he has had some longterm ones, which is never good....However until its an issue its no point making it one....Ngatai had plenty of time out and is now back playing and Coles is another long termer who is due back soon so I believe they know what they are doing. i think SBW is the no 1 12 at the moment tho...but for how long eh?
Machooka
Roar Guru
Solid starting 15... like really solid. Good to see the Saders centre pairing of Crotty and Goodhue got the nod... and sincerely hope Crotty doesn't take another head knock. Wallaby will need to bring it... and some!
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
I don't know, Perry has been going well with the Crusaders
Cantab
Guest
That’s big in terms of gap in quality, but not so in terms of the position.
Cantab
Guest
I genuinely think Goodhue and Crotty are the long term AB centres. IMO the best defensive centre pairing the AB’s have ever had. Yes they lack ‘x factor’ but so what. Goodhue runs amazing lines in attack and I don’t know if Crotty has ever had a bad game? In terms of Crottys head knocks, interesting hearing him talk about it. He doesn’t think he’s close to it being an issue. Nor does he think he gets more head knock than other players - he just takes them more seriously.
Highlander
Guest
when are the wallabies named?
Lara
Guest
The Wallabies need to kick well against this team.
KiwiHaydn
Guest
Ofa out injured, replaced by Perry on the bench https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/106319434/all-blacks-prop-ofa-tuungafasi-ruled-out-of-sydney-bledisloe-tim-perry-comes-in
Julz
Guest
Rookie center vs rookie center, good match up.
Ben
Guest
"The only players missing from potentially New Zealand’s strongest side are Williams and injured hooker Dane Coles." I would argue Nepo Laulala would be in the match day 23 also....
jeznez
Roar Guru
Goodhue might be the only one anyone could quibble over. This is certainly the A team. Am nervously awaiting the announcement of the Wallabies
jeznez
Roar Guru
It’s a very good looking side but I’m not surprised we are favourites!