Foster is forced to ring the changes

Perth – Brad Weber (right) will start at scrum-half for the All Blacks when they face Australia this weekend, with coach Ian Foster ringing the changes for the third Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth.

The 30-year-old was preferred to the experienced TJ Perenara in place of veteran Aaron Smith, in a depleted team also missing fellow regulars Sam Whitelock and Richie Mo’unga.

All three have remained in New Zealand to be with their wives who are due to give birth soon.

Beauden Barrett returns to the starting side at fly-half while Anton Lienert-Brown is back from a knee injury at centre, outside David Havili.

Rieko Ioane moves to the left wing, Will Jordan is on the right wing and Jordie Barrett takes on the fullback role in place of Damian McKenzie, who is relegated to the bench.

There is just the one change in the forward pack from New Zealand’s crushing 57-22 win over the Wallabies to seal the three-game Bledisloe Cup in Auckland last month.

It sees Scott Barrett come in for Whitelock, who captained the side in Auckland and that role has gone to Ardie Savea for the first time.

“We are ready, and the team is really determined to finish off this block of Tests against Australia with a top performance,” said coach Ian Foster, who was last week re-appointed until the 2023 World Cup.

“We’ve had a really unique situation going into this Test, with quarantine back in New Zealand and a ‘soft’ quarantine here in Perth.

“But the work that has gone in preparing the players has been outstanding, so we’ll be ready.”

The match, which doubles as round two of the Rugby Championship, was supposed to be played last weekend. –