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It has been nearly an entire year since Australia’s quarter-final exit at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but with only two of the same players from that starting XV retaining their jerseys, coming off the back of a very different Super Rugby competition and with an entirely different coaching set-up at the helm, the Wallabies represent a completely new proposition to previous years.
The All Blacks, headed by a new coach themselves, have also named a formidable team for the upcoming encounter and the media has already acknowledged how eager they will be to atone for their own premature exit from last year’s tournament. They have just six of the same starters from their last Test encounter.
» Bledisloe Game 1 live scores, blog: Follow all the All Blacks vs Wallabies action live
While previous results may not look all that promising for the men in gold, it’s far too early for any naysayers to be dismissing Dave Rennie’s Wallabies.
He may have his work cut out for him in restoring the Wallabies to a household name and to boost their current ranking of seventh in the world, but he comes in with a massive vote of confidence from most fans as a well-credentialled coach with a game plan and strategy much less divisive than the previous regime’s.
Across the Tasman, the new coach Ian Foster (previously the assistant coach to the All Blacks) has faced a far less warm welcome as his position was also contested by Scott Robertson – the coach of the Crusaders, who have won all four competitions they have been involved in under him.
The “out with the old, in with the new” cry was echoed across large portions of New Zealand and so the pressure will definitely be on to perform and silence their own detractors.
But how do the teams actually stack up against each other?
A lot has been made about the two sides and the number of personnel changes each coach has made from their predecessor, but even with those changes, the two coaches have taken fairly unique approaches.
(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
Wallabies (number of Test caps in brackets)
1. James Slipper (96)
2. Folau Fainga’a (12)
3. Taniela Tupou (19)
4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (21)
5. Matt Philip (3)
6. Harry Wilson (0)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (99)
8. Pete Samu (9)
9. Nic White (31)
10. James O’Connor (52)
11. Marika Koroibete (28)
12. Matt To’omua (52)
13. Hunter Paisami (0)
14. Filipo Daugunu (0)
15. Tom Banks (6)
16. Jordan Uelese (9)
17. Scott Sio (63)
18. Allan Alaalatoa (35)
19. Rob Simmons (100)
20. Rob Valetini (1)
21. Jake Gordon (1)
22. Noah Lolesio (0)
23. Reece Hodge (39)
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Total caps: 676
All Blacks
1. Joe Moody (46)
2. Codie Taylor (50)
3. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (35)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (30)
5. Sam Whitelock (117)
6. Shannon Frizell (9)
7. Sam Cane (c) (68)
8. Ardie Savea (44)
9. Aaron Smith (92)
10. Richie Mo’unga (17)
11. George Bridge (9)
12. Jack Goodhue (13)
13. Rieko Ioane (29)
14. Jordie Barrett (17)
15. Damian McKenzie (23)
(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
16. Dane Coles (69)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (13)
18. Nepo Laulala (26)
19. Tupou Vaa’I (0)
20. Hoskins Sotutu (0)
21. TJ Perenara (64)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (43)
23. Caleb Clarke (0)
Total caps: 814
So, other than a whole lot of names and numbers, what does this all mean and what actually stands out?
The most discernible difference upon immediate glance was the placement of the newcomers.
The Wallabies have named four debutants (Wilson, Paisami, Daugunu and Lolesio) for the all-important first fixture of 2020, where New Zealand have named three (Vaa’i, Sotutu and Clarke). The difference, however, is that three of the four Wallabies rookies will be starting the Test match, a demonstration of the faith put into these young men by Rennie.
Conversely, all three of the new All Blacks will be injected off the bench, if at all, for their first Test.
The other striking note of comparison was the experience of all players, not just those on debut.
Despite this crop of All Blacks having played a combined 138 more Test matches than this Wallabies side, it should be noted that nearly half (43.6 per cent) of the Wallabies Test caps come from just three players (Slipper, Hooper and Simmons).
It means that in addition to the four debutants for Australia, it will also only be the second Test match for Valetini and Gordon, the fourth for Philip, seventh for Banks and the tenth for Samu and Uelese. Reassuringly, Rennie has stuck true to his word of rewarding form and not reputation, but it will be interesting to see how this side rises to the occasion with so many players not fully accustomed to the Test match arena.
Looking into the numbers further shows that the New Zealand starting team boasts 171 more Test caps and that it’s really only Simmons’ involvement off the bench that balances the contrast out more in the Wallabies favour.
A lot has been made of Australia’s depth at prop and how the set piece could effectively be used as a weapon against the All Blacks, but there are two areas that stick out more where the best clashes should occur.
The back row for Australia looks a thing of beauty and they have no harder task than tackling the Herculean efforts of new skipper Cane and one of the most dynamic (offensively and defensively) 6/8 combinations of Frizell and Savea.
However, the Wallabies are fighting fire with fire and have the soon-to-be Test centurion Hooper, one of the hardest-working players in world rugby, in between the line-bending, tackle-breaking, heavy-hitting duo of Wilson and Samu.
(Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It’s easily the most excited I’ve been for a back row battle between these two great teams.
The other key area is the play-making axis. While Smith may be the best scrumhalf in the world and Mo’unga has proven to be the form 10, it’s the 9-10-12 combination of White, O’Connor and To’omua that actually matches up with their opposites in terms of experience and even boasts a few years and Test caps on them.
With two new coaches, no one knows exactly what the game plan will be from either side, especially with the late pullout from Beauden Barrett at fullback. No matter the style chosen though, it’s this lynchpin of attack from both sides that should have all eyes glued as it will be the make or break as to how well the exciting backs outside them inject into the match.
There’s clearly plenty to be excited about and rugby fans will have had this often-changing date and time circled in their calendars as Test match rugby in the southern hemisphere resumes.
No matter the preconceptions you have on the result, this match will be huge and an impressive spectacle is practically guaranteed from both of these new sides.
What better way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon than to break out your stubby-cooler, dust off your tongs, fire up the Weber (not Brad) and tune in for the next instalment of the Bledisloe Cup?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.