Hansen names close to full-strength side

RUGBY UNION: Jack Goodhue has won the sought-after outside centre berth in a near-full strength All Blacks team to face the Wallabies in Sydney tomorrow night.

In one of the few dilemmas for coach Steve Hansen, rising star Goodhue will play his second Test in the Bledisloe Cup opener, seeing off the challenge of the more accomplished Anton Lienert Brown.

Hansen stuck closely to the team that whitewashed France 3-0 in June, although the world champions were hit with a late injury blow yesterday.

Named on the bench, prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi was later ruled out after injuring rib cartilage.

The dynamic tight head, who has started all 17 of his Tests off the bench, is replaced by the uncapped Tim Perry, with Jeff Toomaga-Allen to cross the Tasman as cover. That could be a weakness for New Zealand as Perry is a more specialised loose-head prop and played only two midweek matches on last November’s tour of Europe.

Hansen sprang a surprise in omitting Jordie Barrett, the first-choice fullback against France. However, Ben Smith shifts from the right wing to his specialist fullback berth, with Highlanders teammate Waisake Naholo restored out wide.

The only other changes from Hansen’s strongest side against France are the return from injury of captain Kieran Read at No.8 and lock Brodie Retallick, boosting the pack considerably.

The Test will be the 100th for lock Sam Whitelock, making him the eighth All Black to achieve the milestone. His 25th Test against Australia will make him the first All Blacks secondrower to raise three figures.

Crusaders teammate Goodhue’s sharp form for the Super Rugby champions helped him win the midfield berth left vacant by the injured Sonny Bill Williams.

Another Crusader, Ryan Crotty, shifts to inside centre.

The only players missing from potentially NZ’s strongest side are Williams and injured hooker Dane Coles.