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All Blacks v Wallabies II: All you need to know

Author
Christopher Reive,
Publish Date
Sat, 5 Aug 2023, 11:08am
Will Jordan will start at fullback for the All Blacks this weekend. Photo / Getty
Will Jordan will start at fullback for the All Blacks this weekend. Photo / Getty

All Blacks v Wallabies II: All you need to know

Author
Christopher Reive,
Publish Date
Sat, 5 Aug 2023, 11:08am

All you need to know ahead of the second Bledisloe Cup test between the All Blacks and the Wallabies.

Afternoon footy

After last weekend鈥檚 38-7 All Blacks win saw them retain the Bledisloe Cup for another year (make that a 21-year drought for the Wallabies), the sides will run out under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium for Dunedin鈥檚 dead rubber test at the family-friendly time of聽2.35pm聽on Saturday afternoon. Plan accordingly.

What鈥檚 on the line?

While the Bledisloe Cup is securely locked away for another year, the All Blacks have plenty to play for this weekend - particularly when you look at聽the team Ian Foster has selected.

With the World Cup squad named on Monday evening, this weekend is the final opportunity for players to stake their claim to a spot on the plane to France.聽Herald聽rugby scribe Liam Napier reports Foster and fellow selectors Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt have the bulk, but not all, of their 33-man World Cup squad already locked in, so there are spots up for grabs.

There will be plenty of attention on Shaun Stevenson (right wing), Samipeni Finau (blindside flanker) and Dallas McLeod (reserve back) as they make their All Blacks debuts in the contest, while fellow All Blacks rookie Tamaiti Williams (loosehead prop) will make his second test appearance.

Foster鈥檚 selections have been a masterstroke as, instead of having a Test with little to whet the appetite, there will be plenty of interest with the World Cup looming.

At the other end of the spectrum, a handful of players will be making their final test appearance on home soil before moving onto the next stage of their careers, including Highlanders stalwart Aaron Smith, who provides cover at halfback.

In an exceptionally rare occurrence, there won鈥檛 be a single Barrett in the All Blacks matchday 23.

For the Wallabies, they will run out a relatively settled side with limited changes, though Tate McDermott takes over as captain with Allan Alaalatoa suffering an Achilles injury last time out. He鈥檒l miss the World Cup because of it, so this test is a big opportunity for the likes of Pone Fa鈥檃mausili (tighthead prop) and Zane Nonggorr (reserve prop) to stake their claims for larger roles moving forward.

Carter Gordon gets another start in the No. 10 jersey after a mixed showing in his first test start last weekend; coach Eddie Jones noting the need to give the 22-year-old some time in the saddle if he鈥檚 going to succeed at the top level. Jones makes a great point, though you can understand frustrations with the side still being experimented with so close to the World Cup.

Carter Gordon retains the No 10 jersey for the Wallabies this weekend. Photo / Getty ImagesCarter Gordon retains the No 10 jersey for the Wallabies this weekend. Photo / Getty Images

How the sides line up

All Blacks:聽Will Jordan, Shaun Stevenson, Braydon Ennor, Anton Lienert-Brown, Leicester Fainga鈥檃nuku, Damian McKenzie, Finlay Christie, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Samisoni Taukei鈥檃ho, Tamaiti Williams.

Reserves:聽Dane Coles, Ofa Tu鈥檜ngafasi, Fletcher Newell, Tupou Vaa鈥檌, Luke Jacobson, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo鈥檜nga, Dallas McLeod.

Wallabies:聽Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Carter Gordon, Tate McDermott, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, Pone Fa鈥檃mausili, David Porecki, Angus Bell.

Reserves:聽Jordan Uelese, James Slipper, Zane Nonggorr, Will Skelton, Rob Leota, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Izaia Perese.

TAB odds

All Blacks:聽$1.10听顿谤补飞:听$26听础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补:听$6.00

How to follow the action

For live commentary of All Blacks v Wallabies, join Elliott Smith on 九一星空无限talk ZB, Gold Sport and iHeartRadio.

You can watch the game on Sky Sport 1 and live streaming on Sky Sport Now; an alternative commentary option from the Alternative Commentary Collective is available on iHeartRadio, Hauraki and Sky Sport 9.

You can also find live updates at nzherald.co.nz.

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