Nowhere men

It is a dead rubber. The Wallabies are as weak as a can of Foster's and now for the first time in more than six years there is not a Highlander to be seen in black. It could be a tough ask staying up late tomorrow night. The All Blacks will take on the Wallabies in Brisbane tomorrow night, in what will be the fourth game between the teams in the past five weeks. All Blacks coach Ian Foster has rung the changes, bringing in some new caps and giving most of the squad members a run. But what he has done has meant there is not one Highlander in the match day squad of 23. Halfback Aaron Smith has been replaced by TJ Perenara, who looked a tad off the pace last week. Blindside flanker Shannon Frizell has also disappeared as Akira Inane finally gets a test start. It has been a long time since the All Blacks played a match with no Highlander in the test side. On November 1, 2014, the side played the United States in Chicago and not one Highlander was involved. Since then 73 games have been played by the All Blacks and at least one Highlander has been on the field in the black jersey. Aaron and Ben Smith have been the stalwarts along with the likes of Liam Squire and Waisake Naholo. The last game in a match against a tier one nation where no Highlander featured was way back in the World Cup final of 2011. Adam Thomson was on the reserves bench against the French at Eden Park but he never got on the pitch. There have been 99 games against tier one nations since then.

SYDNEY: Reece Hodge will play only his second test for Australia at first fiveeighth against New Zealand in Brisbane tomorrow after coach Dave Rennie yesterday made six changes to his starting side for the second TriNations test

With James O'Connor still struggling with a knee injury that ruled him out of last weekend's record 435 loss to the All Blacks, Hodge was named in the side in place of Noah Lolesio, who drops to the bench after a poor game on debut in Sydney.

``He's got a big kicking game, we know he can carry and he tackles well in that channel,'' Rennie said of the versatile 42test veteran.

``He just gives us a bit of experience in those inside backs. We think Noah off the bench this week will be good

for him. He's learnt a bit ... and we expect him to respond off the bench.''

An injury to lock Lukhan SalakaiaLoto also forced a change in the second row with Rob Simmons set to earn his 104th cap alongside Matt Philip at Lang Park.

While Hodge and Simmons will bring an injection of experience to the team, Rennie continued to blood youngsters with right winger Tom Wright and blindside flanker Lachlan Swinton handed their international debuts.

Fleetfooted rugby league convert Wright replaces Filipo Daugunu outside a new centre partnership made up of Queensland youngsters Jordan Petaia and Hunter Paisami.

Ned Hanigan dropped to the bench, where he will cover the second and back rows, allowing his fellow New South Wales loose forward Swinton a taste of test rugby.

Angus Bell could also make his test debut off the bench after being named as backup to loosehead prop James Slipper, who will become the 13th Australian to win 100 test caps. — Reuters