Wallabies' Karmichael Hunt overlooked for final Bledisloe Cup Test
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has surprisingly left Karmichael Hunt out of his squad for Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test in Brisbane while All Blacks five-eighth Beauden Barrett’s absence due to concussion issues has opened the door for Lima Sopoaga.
Hunt is fit and available after recovering from an ankle injury and was thought to be a certain inclusion for the clash against New Zealand, having starred in the June window but Cheika has decided against calling up the 30-year-old, keeping Samu Kerevi as the bench cover for the centre positions.
Rob Simmons has been elevated to the starting line-up to replace Izack Rodda, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on Wednesday, in the only change to the Australian team that toppled Argentina 37-20 in Mendoza two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Ned Hanigan has been brought back onto the bench after he was excluded for the match against Los Pumas. Former skipper Stephen Moore has also been named among the reserves, for what will be his last Test match on Australian soil and his 125th overall – making him the ninth-most capped international of all time.
Barrett suffered a head knock in the world champions’ last-up win over South Africa and is still feeling the effects, despite passing concussion tests. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has taken a conservative approach with Barrett and sidelined the Hurricanes ace, calling up Sopoaga in his place.
Sopoaga has made just one Test start – against the Springboks in 2015 – but made several solid bench cameos in the Rugby Championship. He was set to start in the All Blacks’ Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires, only to pull out of the squad due to the imminent birth of his daughter. Damian McKenzie will provide cover from fullback.
Elsewhere, Hansen has stuck with his team for the dead rubber in Brisbane, deciding against giving any senior All Blacks a rest. Openside flanker Sam Cane will earn his 50th Test cap, while the likes of Sam Whitelock, Dane Coles, Aaron Smith and Kieran Read will all play. Brodie Retallick remains out due to personal reasons.
At blindside, Liam Squire has earned the nod ahead of veteran Jerome Kaino, who was expected to play a part in Brisbane after a long All Blacks absence. Kaino will instead watch on from the stands.
Hansen said he expected a desperate Australian side, who have lost their 15th straight Bledisloe Cup match and not defeated the All Blacks for over two years.
He added that the All Blacks side still had plenty to improve on. “For us, our goal is to never be satisfied at where we’re at, and that means it’s greater than just the [match] outcome,” Hansen said.
“We’re always striving to get better, every game. It’ll be another great opportunity for this young team to show what they’ve learnt throughout the year and playing at Suncorp Stadium will be another fantastic learning experience for them – it’s a great ground with a lot of tradition.”
The third clash in two months against the All Blacks is a dead rubber, after August’s nailbiter in Dunedin sealed a 15th consecutive Bledisloe Cup series victory for the world champions. But the Wallabies will be out to prove a point after finishing second in the Rugby Championship with a string of solid, consistent performances.
Wallabies: Israel Folau, Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, Kurtley Beale, Reece Hodge, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper (captain), Jack Dempsey, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu PolotaNau, Scott Sio. Reserves: Stephen Moore, Tom Robertson, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Tui, Ned Hanigan, Nick Phipps, Samu Kerevi, Henry Speight.
All Blacks: Damian McKenzie, Waisake Naholo, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Liam Squire, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Kane Hames. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Anton Lienert-Brown, David Havili.