Jordie Barrett will win his third All Blacks cap as he has been named at full-back in an injury-enforced change for New Zealand coach Steve Hansen ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Australia.
The All Blacks are bracing themselves for an Wallabies backlash in their Rugby Championship clash in Auckland on Saturday.
With injured Rieko Ioane ruled out, Waisake Naholo moves across to the left wing to accommodate Ben Smith on the right while Barrett, not required last week in Sydney, runs on at 15 for his third Test start, and will start alongside brother Beauden.
The one other backline change sees Ngani Laumape take the 12 jersey, replacing Ryan Crotty who was concussed when the All Blacks beat the Wallabies 38-13 in Sydney last week.
The starting forward pack is unchanged, with tighthead prop Owen Franks to play his milestone 100th Test, following on from Sam Whitelock reaching the mark in Sydney. On the bench Ofa Tuungafasi comes in for Tim Perry.
Another New Zealand win will give them the Bledisloe Cup, contested annually between the two countries, for a 16th straight year.
Steve Hansen.
Hansen said he expected a much more determined Wallabies to take the field in the return encounter at Eden Park.
“The team is fully aware that it has the opportunity to close out the Bledisloe Cup series on Saturday. In saying that, we know that there’ll be a massive response from Australia following their performance last week,” he said.
“Not only are we excited by this challenge, but we’re looking forward to responding ourselves with a better performance.
“Our preparation this week – both physically and mentally – has been all about getting ready to do that. We’ll be looking to execute to an even higher level and play at an intensity that will challenge ourselves and our opponent.”
A win will also move them a step closer to a sixth Rugby Championship title in seven years.
Auckland’s Eden Park has not been kind to Australia in recent years.
They have lost all 17 Tests they have played there since 1986, including the most recent four by an average of 27 points, and the All Blacks have won their past 41 Tests at the venue since last losing to France 23-20 in 1994.
Hansen has also paid tribute to Franks, the ninth All Blacks centurion.
“He has started 90 of his 99 Tests to date, which is an incredible achievement for a tighthead prop, one of the most physically demanding positions on the footy field,” Hansen said.
“His professionalism and dedication to improvement has been an inspiration to other All Blacks for quite some time now.”
Franks already holds one notable record having played more games than any other player in Test history without scoring a try.
New Zealand (15-1): Jordie Barrett; Ben Smith, Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Waisake Naholo; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Liam Squire; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody.
Replacements: Nathan Harris, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown.
