SYDNEY, Sept 19 (Askume) – The All Blacks have reinstated Beauden Barrett for Saturday’s Rugby Championship test against the Wallabies, the first of two Bledisloe Cup tests.
New Zealand come into the game on the back of consecutive defeats to the world champion Springboks, with head coach Scott Robertson making four changes to his squad for the game at Stadium Australia, including one change of venue.
Beauden Barrett’s return to the number 15 jersey means a shift to Will Jordan on the right wing, and the return of Caleb Clarke on the left wing after returning from injury. Sevu Reece was sent to the bench to cover the back three.
“When Caleb comes back, the best balance for us is to put Boden at guard and Will at wing,” Robertson told reporters Thursday.
“Those three are a great combination. (Will) played some great Test football out wide. Just because he started out wide doesn’t mean he can’t operate at full-back.”
In the front row, carefree prop Ethan de Groot has returned from injury along with hookers Cody Taylor and Tyrell Lomax to return to the starting lineup.
Tamiti Williams joins conservative Pacilio Tosi on the bench in place of De Groot, who replaces Fletcher Newell, playing for the national team for the second time despite being injured.
Robertson says lock Patrick Tupulotu has been included in the squad after returning from a knee injury but is not yet fully ready to play.
New Zealand hope to get back to winning ways on Saturday, having lost just one of their last 12 matches against trans-Tasman opponents.
Australia last hosted the Bledisloe Cup in 2002.
“We have selected an experienced squad that together has produced some of our best rugby this season,” Robertson said in a release.
“The Bledisloe Cup is held in high esteem by both teams and we look forward to a classic encounter with our Australian opponents.”
Team: 15-Boden Barrett, 14-Will Jordan, 13-Rico Ioane, 12-Jordie Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 10-Damian McCann Qui, 9-Cortez Latima, 8-Adi Savea, 7-Sam Kane, 6-Wallace Manchester City, 5-Taupouvi, 4-Scott Barre Special (Captain), 3-Tyrell Lomax, 2-Cody Taylor, 1-Ethan DeGroot
Substitutes: 16-Assad Aumua, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Sam Derry, 20-Luke Jacobson, 21-TJ Perenara, 22-Anton Lennart-Brown, 23-Sue Rees
