Key events
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has had a word with the host broadcaster.
The week has been good, great to get back together on the back of a disappointing second half in Sante Fe and iron a few things out. At the same time try to take a few steps forward.
The players have worked hard this week. You can never guarantee anything but we know we have to stay connected well, we have to go after the All Blacks because we can’t wait for them, but at the same time we have to do it in an efficient way because we know how well they play.
Schmidt, a Kiwi, and around the All Blacks set-up before he moved to Australia, was asked about he will motivate his adopted nation against his homeland.
I’m more of the rugby guide, a couple of our coaches spark emotion well. I leave them to do that and I help us get organised and grow our skill set so we can cope against one of the best teams in the world.
The build-up to this Test has been dominated by James Slipper, who will become the most-capped Australian in rugby history this afternoon.
In a generation of decline for Australian rugby, Slipper has stood tall. Unlike halfback Gregan, his domain is the scrum, the most brutally confrontational area of the game. Today, Slipper’s face bears the scars of three decades in the engine room – bent nose, pulped ears, battered brows – but his tough nut is quick to split into a grin.
New Zealand XV
Scot Robertson originally made four changes to the side that left South Africa empty handed with Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan and Caleb Clarke all returning in the backs, and Ethan de Groot in the front row. However, just an hour from kick-off Beauden Barrett was withdrawn through illness meaning Jordan shifts to fullback, Sevu Reece comes in on the wing, and Harry Plummer joins the bench, from where he will make his Test debut.
“We have selected an experienced team which has combinations that have played some of our best rugby this season,” All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said. “The Bledisloe Cup is so revered by both of these teams, we are expecting a classic showdown against our Australian rivals.
“We have acknowledged the rich history of the Cup this week as a team and recognise that history does not bestow any rights. The Bledisloe Cup is always hard-earned and each year is its own chapter in the Bledisloe story.”
1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 6. Wallace Sititi, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan
Impact: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Sam Darry, 20. Luke Jacobson, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Harry Plummer
Australia XV
Joe Schmidt has taken an axe to the Australian backs following the second half shemozzle in Santa Fe. Fraser McReight’s return in the back row is the only change to the pack, but there’s another new halves pairing with Nic White and Noah Lolesio reconnecting, Hunter Paisami is in the 12 jersey as he returns from injury, and Tom Wright is recalled at fullback, shifting Andrew Kellaway onto the wing.
There’ll be plenty of attention on the replacements bench too with prop James Slipper on track to surpass George Gregan as the most-capped Wallabies player of all time.
1. Angus Bell, 2. Matt Faessler, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Nick Frost, 5. Jeremy Williams, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson (c), 9. Nic White, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Hunter Paisami, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Andrew Kellaway, 15. Tom Wright.
Replacements: 16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17. James Slipper, 18. Allan Alaalatoa, 19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20. Langi Gleeson, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Tom Lynagh, 23. Dylan Pietsch.
The Wallabies have been give Buckley’s chance of regaining the Bledisloe Cup. But as Angus Fontaine writes, that might not be an entirely lost cause.
This most Australian of phrases traditionally conveys a state beyond hopelessness but closer inspection shows convict William Buckley, who escaped in 1803 and was given up for dead, actually defied the grim predictions to survive 30 years in the wild.
Angus Fontaine sifted through the wreckage of Santa Fe.
The second-half absence of Bell and lock Nick Frost hurt the Wallabies, with scrum veterans Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper, in his record-equalling 139th Test, badly exposed in defence and discipline. Even powerhouse winger Marika Koroibete, 32, was made to look ordinary, forced into touch at full tilt and guilty of fumbles and missed tackles.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v New Zealand in round five of the 2024 Rugby Championship. Kick-off at Accor Stadium in Sydney is 3.45pm AEST.
Also at stake is the Bledisloe Cup, with the Wallabies requiring a victory to retain any hope of ending the All Blacks’ 21-year stranglehold on the trophy. Since New Zealand secured the cup in 2003, the best Australia have mustered is six drawn series, most recently in 2019.
The All Blacks are on a seven-Test Bledisloe winning streak, and the smart money is on that run extending to eight. New Zealand are eager to restore pride after suffering a pair of narrow defeats in South Africa, and Australia are, well, not very good. The All Blacks are ranked third in the world as they rebuild under new coach Scott Robertson. The Wallabies are languishing in ninth, roughly equidistant in rankings points between the All Blacks and… Portugal.
Mistakes of the regrettable Eddie Jones era are still being rectified as Joe Schmidt fully comes to terms with the task facing him. The amiable Kiwi began with a hat-trick of wins (unconvincing, but wins nonetheless) but has since seen his rotating cast of auditionees hammered mercilessly by the Springboks and humiliated by the Pumas.
The All Blacks, with three defeats in their past four matches, are by no means an unstoppable force, but they have a trio of Barretts and some of the most exciting players in world rugby to call upon. Robertson has yet to find the special sauce with the national team, but it is surely only a matter of time for the superstar coach that made the Crusaders near-unbeatable in Super Rugby.
If you’d like to get in touch while I’m on, please fire all communication to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.
