Rattled All Blacks have points to prove despite lifting Wellington curse
Scott Robertson has decided to change his fly-halves as Beauden Barrett, who missed last weekend’s win over Australia due to illness, getting the nod ahead of Damian McKenzie, who has been an ever-present for Robertson. Barrett’s brother Jordie is out with a knee injury so Anton Lienert-Brown replaces him at inside centre. Both half-backs have been changed as TJ Perenara starts at scrum-half.
New Zealand starting XV: Jordan; Reece, Ioane, Lienert-Brown, Clarke; Barrett, Perenara; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, S Barrett (capt), Vaa’i, Sititi, Cane, Savea.
Replacements: Aumua, Williams, Tosi, Tuipulotu, Jacobson, Ratima, McKenzie, Havili.
Australia make two changes to their starting XV as winger Marika Koroibete is injured, so he is replaced by Dylan Pietsch. Joe Schmidt continues to change his scrum-halves as Jake Gordon, who was not in the matchday squad last week, starts with Nic White dropping out entirely. James Slipper, who became the country’s most-capped player last weekend, is ruled out through injury so is replaced on the Australia bench by Isaac Aedo Kailea.
Australia starting XV: Wright; Kellaway, Ikitau, Paisami, Pietsch; Lolesio, Gordon; Bell, Faessler, Tupou, Frost, Williams, Valetini, McReight, Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Paenga-Amosa, Kailea, Alaalatoa, Salakaia-Loto, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Flook.
