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New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has unveiled a new-look side to take on Australia in the third and final Bledisloe Cup Test on Saturday in Japan.
The side features five changes from the one that took down South Africa in their most recent outing, and a whopping ten changes from the one that defeated the Wallabies 38-13 in Bledisloe 2.
Most notable is the move of Damian McKenzie fullback in what’s easily one of the most surprising moves of the year by Hansen.
That shifts Ben Smith on to the wing, while TJ Perenara has also been named as the starting halfback in place of Aaron Smith.
Beauden Barrett will still be the starting five-eighth, while Kieran Read will still lead the side – quashing any hopes Australia may have had of their opponents taking a lighter approach to the dead rubber fixture.
Further up the ground, injuries to Sam Cane and Shannon Frizell have forced the All Blacks to put Ardie Savea and Liam Squire on the field.
Joe Moody, however, has overcome his own injury concerns and will line up in the familiar no.1 jersey – shifting Karl Tu’inukuafe back to the bench.
Brodie Rettalick has also overcome an injury, but he has been named on the bench – allowing Scott Barrett to keep his place in the starting line-up.
New Zealand wrapped up a 16th consecutive Bledisloe victory after dominating the Aussies 40-12 and 38-13 in the first two matches of the fixture.
While the Wallabies were able to come back and pinch a Game 3 victory in 2017, it’ll be the Kiwis who start overwhelming favourites to complete the sweep when the sides meet in Yokohama on Saturday night.
1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Sam Whitelock, 5. Scott Barrett, 6. Liam Squire, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Kieran Read (c), 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Ryan Crotty, 14. Ben Smith, 15. Damian McKenzie
Reserves: 16. Nathan Harris, 17. Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18. Nepo Laulala, 19. Brodie Retallick, 20. Matt Todd, 21. Aaron Smith, 22. Richie Mo’unga, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown.