- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Hoskins Sotutu will make his first start of the year when the All Blacks take on the Wallabies in their Bledisloe Cup Test in Melbourne, with coach Ian Foster naming him to replace star No.8 Ardie Savea.
New Zealand were forced to name a new-look backrow with Savea to miss Thursday night’s Test due to the birth of his child, while blindside flanker Shannon Frizell is also out through injury.
Captain Sam Cane remains at openside flanker and has been joined by Sotutu in his 11th Test, while Scott Barrett has moved from lock to six for the Marvel Stadium match.
Blues backrower Sotutu’s last Test was against Italy last November.
The shift of Barrett, who also started at blindside flanker in the All Blacks’ first Test against Ireland, means veterans Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock will team up in the second row.
The backline remains unchanged after New Zealand’s thumping 50-point win over Argentina in Hamilton.
In the only change to the reserves, Akira Ioane has been brought in as backrow cover alongside Dalton Papali’i.
The All Blacks haven’t lost the Bledisloe Cup series in 19 years, while the Rugby Championship trophy also remains up for grabs.
“We are incredibly driven to keep hold of this trophy which means so much to both countries,” Foster said in a statement.
“And when you factor in how tight this year’s Rugby Championship is, all signs point towards another great Test match here in Melbourne.”
This series also marks 90 years since the Bledisloe Cup was first presented in 1932.
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets):
1.Ethan de Groot (8)
2.Samisoni Taukei’aho (15)
3.Tyrel Lomax (18)
4.Brodie Retallick (96)
5.Samuel Whitelock (138)
6.Scott Barrett (54)
7.Sam Cane © (84)
8.Hoskins Sotutu (10)
9.Aaron Smith (109)
10.Richie Mo’unga (39)
11.Caleb Clarke (9)
12.David Havili (20)
13.Rieko Ioane (54)
14.Will Jordan (19)
15.Jordie Barrett (43)
16.Dane Coles (83)
17.George Bower (18)
18.Fletcher Newell (3)
19.Akira Ioane (17)
20.Dalton Papali’i (16)
21.Finlay Christie (10)
22.Beauden Barrett (107)
23.Quinn Tupaea (13)
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.