Ardie Savea will play this week’s Bledisloe Cup opener wearing the number 6 jersey in a surprise selection move from the All Blacks.
Savea was expected to play at number 8 with Kieran Read moving to flanker, but the skipper has kept his place at the back of the scrum. The back row is filled out by Sam Cane.
Scott Barrett has proven his fitness and comes into the side as a straight swap for the injured Brodie Retallick at lock, while Steve Hansen has decided to persevere with the combination of Richie Mo’unga at flyhalf and Beauden Barrett fullback.
The two natural first-fives started together in New Zealand’s 16-all draw with South Africa a couple of weeks ago, and while they didn’t quite click, there were promising signs from the duo.
Their selection means Ben Smith remains out on the wing opposite Rieko Ioane, while Anton Lienert-Brown has been named at inside centre in Sonny Bill Williams’ absence, with Jack Goodhue on his outside.
Lienert-Brown had a strong Super Rugby season for the Chiefs, and a similarly impressive performance against the Wallabies will go some way towards earning a spot in New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup squad.
There has been one more change to the backline, with Aaron Smith replacing TJ Perenara as the run-on halfback.
Dane Coles will start at hooker with Owen Franks and Joe Moody completing the front row, while Sam Whitelock will partner Scott Barrett in the second row.
A win for the All Blacks in Perth on Saturday night will keep the Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand for another year, but with the Springboks currently a point ahead on the Rugby Championship ladder, Hansen’s men will likely need the Pumas to get a result in Salta to retain that trophy.
All Blacks team for Bledisloe 1 (15-1)
Beauden Barrett, Ben Smith, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Ioane, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Kieran Read (c), Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Bench: Codie Taylor, Atu Moli, Angus Ta’avao, Patrick Tuipulotu, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Ngani Laumape, George Bridge
taylorman
Roar Guru
Cane could go to bench with Ardie on at 7 but geez am reluctant not to have Cane not there at the start for his punishing tackling alone. K o king two or three key individuals over early might blunt their overall impact a bit.
Jacko
Guest
So Goodhue wins it for the ABs
Jacko
Guest
Would they still select Savea at 6 if Brodie was back tho? I am inclined to think they would put Barrett at 6 but I guess if Savea has a blinder they would reconsider and have SB on the bench maybe....the thing about Savea is that I dont see him failing so it will give Hansen another great problem......
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Disagree - Samoa were poor leading up to that infamous test, partly due to in house issues re governance and player angst etc hence the magnitude of the upset. The MAB are a handy team with Ab squad members, a match v Aus would be a super close contest. Aus were unconvincing last time they played France in Paris, it was very tight.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Disagree, Pocock sticks out in an average team but is not good enough to pull on the coveted All Black jersey. Said Ab's are greats, bar moody.
Cal
Guest
There's going to be a "black out" zone with 10000 raucous kiwis in it. Put that together with all the other kiwis that live over here and hardly get to see the abs play...no wonder its a sellout. Could be quite a hostile atmosphere for the wallabies
moaman
Roar Guru
I am leaning that way too but not quite ready to discard the old workhorse quite yet. I do think the selectors need to put him under scrutiny though.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Far more active, true, and yet Pocock was much better in the internationals last year than they have been last year or this one. Well obviously they have achieved more, they play in better teams. It is like saying saying Mbappé is better than Messi as he has been in a World Cup wining team – a comment devoid of meaning. Sam Cane has also achieved more than George Smith and, um, well….
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Nah, I don’t think so. It was a World Cup warmup event, and Samoa were a good tier 2 team. Until fairly recently - until that World Cup really - Japan has been a joke against tier 1 teams. I don’t disagree they’re capable of big scalps. However, the Wallabies beat Ireland and South Africa last year, the year before they beat the All Blacks and were a whisker away from winning in New Zealand too. Of course it would be a huge upset. While Australia is poor the Maori All Blacks and France are much poorer.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Samoa beating Aus in Sydney was a bigger upset btw, open to conjecture. I just think with Fiji beating the French in Paris and the Maori All Blacks, that a win vs Aus would not be considered a ‘big’ upset. Mark my words, Fiji are very capable of tier1 scalps.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Said players have been far more active than Pocock and achieved a lot more.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Agree Taylor, it’s a tight one at hooker and I’m a canes tragic. If anything, either would make for a great 2nd half substitute. I also like how coles gets in opponents heads and Taylor also doesn’t take a backward step. I love that inner Buck Shelford in players, bring (him) it back!
Kane
Roar Guru
They’re still test matches. They’re just not part of any tournament. No difference to the Autumn internationals when there are no trophy’s up for grabs
Fox
Roar Guru
yeah apparently he is good to
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
No, I disagree. Look at Argentina’s results since the World Cup, it would be a huge upset.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Are the friendly subject to rankings?
Terminator
Guest
Ben Smith did not play well in either of the first 2 tests (either at fullback or right wing). He has noticeably lost some pace and he dropped 5 high balls in total and failed to get to a couple of others allowing them to bounce. I think Smith is on borrowed time as he is identitical to Mils Muliaina at RWC 2011, a great All Black who’s RWC arrived one year too late and no longer had the pace to be a world class outside back. Fortunately, Graham Henry replaced him with Israel Dagg, a rising star at the time. Hopefully, Hansen will have Henry’s courage, ignore the criticism of the South Islanders, and promote George Bridge who is great under the high ball, the best kick-chaser in NZ Rugby, and has world class pace.
AndyS
Guest
It must be pretty eventful there in your head, but it doesn't bear much resemblance to the real world...https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/rugby-championship-2017-wallabies-blow-lead-to-draw-23all-with-south-africa-in-perth-20170909-gye8b9.html. I've no doubt it will be mostly AB supporters though; RA have done a fair job of ensuring that they're the only ones with skin in the game.
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
Penalty count.
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
There'll be a big Kiwi contingent there too.