Wallabies hope to keep Bledisloe alive for big crowd
All Blacks v Wallabies
SYDNEY: The TriNations kicks off this evening when an inexperienced Australia hosts the All Blacks in front of a 40,000 crowd at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, but all eyes will be on a much older prize — the Bledisloe Cup.
The withdrawal from the Rugby Championship of world champions South Africa over player welfare concerns has left a rump competition to be played out over the next six weeks between the transtasman rivals and Argentina.
The All Blacks and Wallabies got a head start on the Pumas with two tests played in front of big crowds in New Zealand over the last month, and the competitiveness of those matches has whetted the appetite for today’s contest.
A 1616 draw in Wellington followed by a 277 All Blacks win in Auckland means the Bledisloe Cup series remains alive, even if the Wallabies need to win the last two matches if they are to end New Zealand’s 17year grip on the trophy.
‘‘We know it will be a massive effort from the Wallabies this week,’’ All Blacks coach Ian Foster said yesterday.
‘‘It’s a do or die for them and that’s the way they will see it. The key thing for us is that we have to make it a do or die thing for us too.’’
New Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is still enjoying his honeymoon period but injury has ended any question of his
All Blacks: Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Anton LienertBrown, Jack Goodhue, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Hoskins
Sotutu, Sam Cane (captain), Shannon Frizell, Sam Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tuungafasi, Dane Coles, Karl Tu’inukuafe. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Alex Hodgman, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett, Dalton Papalii, TJ Perenara, Ngani Laumape, Rieko Ioane
Wallabies: Dane HaylettPetty, Filipo Daugunu, Jordan Petaia, Irae Simone, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Nic White, Harry Wilson, Michael Hooper (captain), Ned Hanigan, Matt Philip, Lukhan SalakaiaLoto, Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon PaengaAmosa, James Slipper. Reserves: Jordan Uelese,
Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Fraser McReight, Tate McDermott, Reece Hodge, Hunter Paisami.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Stats watch: Wallabies prop James Slipper will play his 99th test.
Debuts: All Black No 8 Hoskins Sotutu makes his starting debut. The
Wallabies will have inside back duo Noah Lolesio and Irae Simone on debut while Reds pair Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight may make a debut if they get on to the field.
Record: Played 168, All Blacks 116 wins, Wallabies 44 wins, eight draws
phasing in the transition to a new generation of playmakers.
Matt Toomua and James O’Connor have both been ruled out tonight and so first five Noah Lolesio and second five Irae Simone will make their test debuts.
Rennie will clearly be hoping his forwards can give them the platform they provided to Toomua and O’Connor with their aggressive display in Wellington.
‘‘We’ve seen where we think we’ve created opportunities for ourselves,’’ Rennie said yesterday.
‘‘There are little areas that we think we can get some joy.’’
Rennie will also be looking for a much lower missed tackle count than at Eden Park and a strategy that avoids kicking the ball to the All Blacks back three, especially young left winger Caleb Clarke.
Foster, also taking charge of his third test tonight, clearly believes he got his selection right at Eden Park and has made only three changes, one expected and two enforced, to his team.
Despite having dominated the
Bledisloe Cup exchanges since 2003, the usual match scheduling means New Zealand have not actually secured the trophy on Australian soil since 2009.
‘‘I think that will be a special achievement,’’ Foster added.
‘‘We have to make sure that we show our colours playing away from home and that we can lift our performance regardless of which country we’re in.’’ — Reuters