All Blacks Make Changes For 2nd Test Vs. Australia

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: Winger Caleb Clarke and lock Tupou Vaai will make their first test starts and Beauden Barrett will return at fullback in the All Blacks lineup to play Australia in the second Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park on Sunday.

Clarke and Vaai both made their test debuts off the bench in last weekends 16-16 draw in the first test in Wellington and move into the starting XV because of injuries.

Clarke will start on the left wing to replace George Bridge, who suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in training. Vaai joins Patrick Tuipulotu in the second row in pace of veteran Sam Whitelock, who has a head injury.

There were four changes in Australia’s lineup, with backrower Ned Hanigan recalled for his first test in two years. Hanigan played his most-recent test against England at Twickenham in November, 2018 and his return on the blindside flank displaces Pete Samu from the match 23.

Harry Wilson, who made an outstanding debut in Wellington, moves from blindside to No. 8.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa will start at hooker, replacing Folau Fainga’a, in the only other change to the run-on team. Center Jordan Petaia is on the bench after missing the first test with injury and Liam Wright takes a bench spot from Rob Valetini.

Barrett was a late withdrawal from the first test because of an Achilles injury but returns in place of Damian McKenzie, reforming his two playmaker partnership with flyhalf Richie Mounga for the All Blacks. Mounga has retained the No. 10 jersey despite a poor performance in Wellington and lingering questions over his impact and decision-making.

In other changes, Dane Coles will take over at hooker from Codie Taylor and Anton Lienert-Brown will start at center, displacing Rieko Ioane.

Uncapped prop Alex Hodgman has been included on the bench, where he is joined by Taylor, Ioane and McKenzie.

The changes seem to go little way toward remedying the weaknesses apparent in the All Blacks game in Wellington. Clarke is a powerful ball carrier and brings that element which was lacking from New Zealands first test performance.

Barrett is not in his best position at fullback but Lienert-Brown should shore up the All Blacks midfield; Ioane, who played most of his tests as a winger before moving to center, was often caught out of position in the first test.

The All Blacks forward pack seemed to need major renovation to make it more physically competitive. Australia won the breakdown and collision areas in Wellington, playing with far more physical aggression.

The All Blacks’ performance mirrored the World Cup semifinal in Yokohama last year when they were thoroughly outplayed by a harder and tougher England pack.

Shannon Frizell was retained on the blindside flank despite criticism of his performance in in Wellington, and that avoided a reshuffle of the backrow.

Head coach Ian Foster, who is under heavy pressure to deliver a better performance in Auckland, expects improvement.

It was our first test together last weekend and while there were some aspects of our game that we were pretty excited about, especially around our set piece, we didnt get the performance that we wanted, Foster said. So there has been plenty for us to work on. We need to be smarter with our ball and more focussed defensively.

The Bledisloe series is back to square one and starts again this weekend, which is exciting. Its the last test at home for us so there will also be massive excitement amongst our fans. There is everything to play for and we cant wait.

New Zealand hasnt lost to any nation on Eden Park since 1994, and hasnt lost to Australia at the venue since 1986, before any player on either side was born.

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New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mounga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (captain), Shannon Frizell, Tupou Vaai, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tuungafasi, Dane Coles, Joe Moody. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, Scott Barrett, Hoskins Sotutu, T.J. Perenara, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.

Australia: Tom Banks, Filipo Daugunu, Hunter Paisami, Matt Toomua, Marika Koroibete, James OConnor, Nic White; Harry Wilson, Michael Hooper (captain), Ned Hanigan, Matt Philip, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Taniela Tupou, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper. Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Scott Sio, Allan Alaalaota, Rob Simmons, Liam Wright, Jake Gordon, Jordan Petaia, Reece Hodge

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