The All Blacks have sprung a few surprises with Brad Weber named to start at scrumhalf while Tupou Vaa’i will start on the bench for the third Bledisloe Cup game in Perth on Sunday.
It means New Zealand has an imposing list of reserves with TJ Perenara, Damian McKenzie and George Bridge all on the bench. Richie Mo’unga, Sam Whitelock and Aaron Smith were not available.
The All Blacks made one change from the starting forward pack from the Bledisloe Cup-winning Test in Auckland last month, with lock Scott Barrett coming in for Whitelock in the second row.
Patrick Tuipulotu has a groin injury which sees Tupou Vaa’i come onto the bench for his first Test of 2021. Ethan Blackadder also comes onto the bench as loose forward cover. Ardie Savea will captain the All Blacks for the first time at number eight.
Weber gets his second start at halfback in his 11th Test, with TJ Perenara to provide impact off the bench.
Beauden Barrett is at first five-eighth while Anton Lienert-Brown returns from injury at centre, outside David Havili. Rieko Ioane moves to the left wing, Will Jordan is on the right wing and Jordie Barrett is at fullback.
All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said: “We are ready, and the team is really determined to finish off this block of Tests against Australia with a top performance.
“We’ve had a really unique situation going into this Test, with quarantine back in New Zealand and a ‘soft’ quarantine here in Perth, but the work that has gone in preparing the players has been outstanding, so when the whistle goes on Sunday, we’ll be ready.
“In the forwards, we have picked a group that is most recently battle-hardened. A lot of them played in the first two Bledisloe Cup Tests, so it’s right to go with them.”
Commenting on the halfback selection, Foster added: “Brad has been with us through the Steinlager Series and coming into the Rugby Championship, we really wanted to build the nine combination, especially with Aaron not here and to complement TJ’s leadership and experience, so this is a great opportunity to put our faith in Brad to start the Test.”
Earlier, New Zealand legend Jeff Wilson said that Beauden Barrett can ‘change the narrative’ around the All Blacks No.10 jersey by grabbing his chance in the absence of Richie Mo’unga in The Rugby Championship.
Wilson speaking on SENZ radio on Friday morning, also down played Australia’s success earlier this season against France, and suggested the Bledisloe 3 hosts were under intense pressure to salvage their winter Test season.
Barrett will take over from Mo’unga in his preferred position with Mo’unga one of three starters to miss the match in Perth because of impending childbirths, along with Sam Whitelock and Aaron Smith.
“I’m intrigued to see how qickly he steps up and says ‘it’s mine again’,” Wilson said.
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“Does that happen from minute one? I don’t think we can underestimate (him). This guy is one of the best and most talented players we’ve ever had.
“He’s had huge impactful performances for the All Blacks. There has been some frustration from him because he wants to be first five – you see it in interviews now where he says ‘I want to prove that’s where I’m at my best’.
“Does he change things for the All Blacks? In some ways he certainly does with the way he plays the game.”
Wilson said Barrett could reclaim the jersey for the long run to the 2023 World Cup if he chose to focus on that goal.
“There’s a lot going on with him. Everything seems to be happening around him and in some ways that’s probably added some pressure to him,” Wilson said.
“He’s a guy who understands pressure though and he’s certainly made some big decisions – going to Auckland, going to Japan, taking his financial sabbatical over there.
“You can’t argue with him wanting to support the family and look for a different experience but you’d like to see, for the next two years, his focus is going to be on helping the All Blacks go and win a Rugby World Cup.
“That’s what it takes. That’s what it took for us to win in 2011 and 2015 – it needed some key people to be 100 percent obsessive and so passionate about it that they drive that culture and drive the team toward that goal.
“We didn’t get it all right in the last World Cup but the next five weeks, with South Africa on the horizon, this is well and truly his huge opportunity to change the narrative that Richie Mo’unga is our first choice first five.”
Wilson meanwhile was clearly unimpressed by what he has seen from the Wallabies this winter and believes coach Dave Rennie will be concerned.
“He’ll be starting to get frustrated that they are, for periods of games, competitive and put pressure on the All Blacks,” Wilson said.
“The question is whether or not they can, in reality, go out and beat the All Blacks at their own game.
“They are one of the few teams that has the right skill set. They can bring a level of physicality and pressure.
“There are areas of their game they are getting parity at. They’ve got great leadership in terms of Michael Hooper – I couldn’t be more impressed by what he’s shown on a beaten team against the All Blacks.
“This Test match is more about them than the All Blacks. The All Blacks have momentum, they’re playing with confidence. All of a sudden you start thinking ‘I see some consistency in the way they’ve built through the season’.
“The Wallabies are the team that are seriously under pressure.
“So many expectations. There has been a lot of talking in terms of what they think their role should be in the Pacific rim, but you have to back that up with performances.
“Last year they drew with Argentina twice, they’ve been well and truly beaten by the All Blacks, and if we think about their performances against a France side that wasn’t their top team – it was a B+ side – they only just scraped past them.
“They’ve got massive strides they have to make if they’re going to be competitive on a consistent basis. They have a tough few weeks ahead of them and they need to step up.”
ALL BLACKS TEAM FOR THIRD BLEDISLOE CUP TEST
1. George Bower
2. Codie Taylor
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Scott Barrett
6. Akira Ioane
7. Dalton Papalii
8. Ardie Savea – captain
9. Brad Weber
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Rieko Ioane
12. David Havili
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Will Jordan
15. Jordie Barrett
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe
18. Angus Ta’avao
19. Tupou Vaa’i
20. Ethan Blackadder
21. TJ Perenara
22. Damian McKenzie
23. George Bridge
Fox
Roar Guru
Yes indeed and wee reminder of his class as well Faith
Faith
Roar Rookie
That little BB grubber for first try was a thing of beauty.
Fox
Roar Guru
"The ruck defence was still poor especially in 2nd half." Yes agreed Faith, they will be looking at that this week no doubt about that. But credit to the Wallaby 9's for exposing it when a gap opened.
Faith
Roar Rookie
I agree - very good in this Test. Can't wait to see him kick on. Now to see whether they bring different combos. The ruck defence was still poor especially in 2nd half.
Fox
Roar Guru
Akira is AB’ s 6 right now and if you noticed they didn’t replace him but moved him to 8 which he can also play well. He was arguably the AB’s best lineout jumper tonight as well which another string he brings to his game. he was immense in the D tonight driving players back about a metre on at least 4 occasions and the way he went through 3 defenders with that gas and fend was something few if any 6’s in world can do out wide. Very unselfish play letting Jordan score when he could have easily gone over himself. He delivered some fantastic off loads as well tonight – a couple really showed his skillset in that area of his game. He has been outstanding in his last two games for the AB’s no question and now the no6 is definitely his no matter who starts. He keeps this form up and he will be the most dynamic 6 in the game IMO. Trust me, Akira has at last arrived! About bloody time you might argue but he is a very different player now and really matured. He always had that ridiculous skillset but never harnessed it. He has now.
Fox
Roar Guru
I thought he was outstanding in controlling the game with his kicking game. Superb actually. He has uncanny length and accuracy with his in field kicking and that was clearly the tactic tonight. He almost single handed kept the Wallabies pinned back in their own half and especially in the 1st half much like Carter used to do. Controlling a game is not all about razzle and dazzle far from it – just ask Quade Cooper in day gone by. Some of BB kicks went very deep and went out within metres of Wallabies line and one resulting in a rolling maul try and another was defended. Then that deft kick through was weighted just perfectly and he was outstanding in the D as well. He played within himself which is hardly surprising 1st game starting at 10 for a while but still controlled the game and that is sign of real class. He made some nice passes to get his outside back going as well and was always there as a support player The goal kicking was poor from everyone including the Australian 10 if it wasn’t pretty much in front but he also missed an easy penalty early on so maybe the conditions were not as easy as everyone thought or the ball had too much air in it which can happen even if they are pre-tested who knows but he did kick a few as well so lets not be too hard on him. Mounga’s kicking game has been off before as well. It happens. DMac is best of the 3 but even he was off tonight. But sure the AB’s have never truly replaced Dan Carter in the goal kicking dept which is hardly surprising. the best potential kicker is probably Jordie actually. But I am not sweating as all three Ritchie, Jordie and D Mac still have pretty good averages. But sure in tight game you need to make you goal kicks or most of them at least or score more tries of course
Faith
Roar Rookie
Fox, I'm curious how you think BB went. Goalkicking still an issue though to be fair DMac also had a poor night with boot. Those could come back to bite in close games.
Faith
Roar Rookie
I think that Akira is a game changer on attack. I want to see him against better opposition than WBs who are a bit dire - this is easy pickings for him. I feel that Akira should be super sub. Akira and Ardie too similar. If Akira plays then it should be Cane at 7 and Jacobson at 8 and no Ardie or off the bench- we can't have two attackers who aren't good at core roles at loosies.
Fox
Roar Guru
Well Faith MOTM performance by Akira...still think Blackadder should be 6 ?
Fox
Roar Guru
So you did not watch the semi final against England in the WC where Ritchie visibly looked rattled no question whatsoever, by the English rush D and he looked unsettled against the Boks in the group game as well for the same reason even though we won it. I have watched BB in Japan and trust me he has lost none of his pace. And Japanese defences have nothing do with his speed across the ground. Just because someone is charged down means not much…I mean com’on Ritchie , Owen Farrel, Aron Smith, and the list is endless – have all been charged down more than once and some …so that means nothing to me…just good D…it happens to every 9 & 10 at some point and always more than once so does not mean much as far as i am concerned as a guide to how someone is playing unless it happens every other game.
Fox
Roar Guru
Bledisloe 2 Akira: 9 runs for 80 metres gained – best in the pack – 9 tackles all made none missed – best in the pack – two lineouts won and he is not the number one mark. Your argument applies to Blackadder as well Faith so not sure how your argument works there and especially sine Akira is doing the job at test level right now and he has the experience and points on the board. Blackadder does not as yet. May I remind you, that Blackadder was pretty average when he came off the bench against Fiji – added no impact in the carry or contact and that hurt him in the eyes of the selectors. Like I say Faith, No way is Blackadder a better 6 than Akira right now…not even close quite frankly.
Fox
Roar Guru
Just to be clear Ricardo i am not saying its better than the AB’s especially with DMac and TJ on there but it is better than the last test but Tupou has not had the impact they would have hoped against the AB’s. If there is one thing the AB’s almost always do well it is nullifying threats like Tupou.
WEST
Roar Guru
First test was good, Physical in the carry and put in a couple of nice hits on defence. The more dynamic of New Zealand's starting props.. But wasn’t as good in B2.. like to see him do more work.
WEST
Roar Guru
No.. Not at all? Last game he wasn’t great average at scrum time and couldn’t lay a hand on Tate McDermott, with more tackles missed than made around the pillar defence. No metres with ball in hand. Hard to understand why he’s starting right now?
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Plus they have a stronger bench than last time as well. Good point of course and could be telling in the end...
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Fox..I wish my team could hammer you guys into submission..but oh well..
OtakiCraig
Roar Rookie
But Faith he is great on D as well, always has been. He’s never been embarrassed by any Aussie, jappie or argie in Super rugby, not even by other kiwi teams so who are these other Pom, French players he has too beat?
Faith
Roar Rookie
BB always relied on speed but that space is just no longer there with rush defence. So, he shovels his passes, tries the boot - all this he telegraphs so that the move dies. Richie just has a quicker rugby brain and is best suited aginst rush defence. BB is not even that great a defensive player any more. And has lost quickness. In last Test wasnt he charged down?
Faith
Roar Rookie
Fox, I'll be convinced when I see him go against England, France and Boks. Against PSDT and Kolisi/Underhill and Curry. How do you think he rates against Kaino. The perfect 6 looks to make his plays on defense and the boring stuff. Great that he is great on attack but who takes his slack with the core things.
Highlander
Roar Guru
Bower brings real pace to the carry and tackle which we haven’t had in our front row for years. Scrum work has been good, still on the improve When Moody is back he will probably drop out of the 23 but a real handy addition to depth so far.