The All Blacks team has been named to play Australia in the first Bledisloe Cup Investec Rugby Championship Test at Optus Stadium, Perth, on Saturday 10 August.
(Kick-off: 5.45PM Australian Western Standard Time, 9.45PM NZT).
The matchday 23 is as follows (with Test caps in brackets):
1. Joe Moody (38)
2. Dane Coles (62)
3. Owen Franks (107)
4. Scott Barrett (29)
5. Samuel Whitelock (109)
6. Ardie Savea (36)
7. Sam Cane (61)
8. Kieran Read – captain (119)
9. Aaron Smith (84)
10. Richie Mo’unga (10)
11. Rieko Ioane (25)
12. Anton Lienert-Brown (35)
13. Jack Goodhue (8)
14. Ben Smith (78)
15. Beauden Barrett (75)
17. Atu Moli (1)
18. Angus Ta’avao (5)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (22)
20. Matt Todd (18)
21. TJ Perenara (56)
22. Ngani Laumape (11)
23. George Bridge (2)In changes from the All Blacks last outing against South Africa, Dane Coles comes in at starting hooker, with Codie Taylor in the run-on reserves. Scott Barrett returns from injury at lock for the injured Brodie Retallick; and Ardie Savea has been named at blindside flanker, in his first starting role in the 6 jersey. Sam Cane is at openside flanker, with Matt Todd moving to the reserves. In other forward changes on the bench, Atu Moli comes in for Ofa Tuungafasi as prop cover, while Patrick Tuipulotu is lock cover.
QUICK TAP: SAM CANE READY FOR A BIG BATTLE IN THE LOOSE
In the backs, Aaron Smith starts at halfback, with TJ Perenara in the reserves, while Anton Lienert-Brown will make his fourth start in the 12 jersey. Ngani Laumape will provide midfield cover from the bench.
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “Our preparation this week here in Perth has been very good. We can tell that it’s ‘Bledisloe One’ week as there’s a real sense of purpose in everything we do, and a real desire to do it well.
“With the extra time together, we’re starting to see an improved clarity of roles out on the training park. We’ll need to take the confidence that comes with that clarity into the Test on Saturday and deliver a game which has high energy, high skill and great decision-making.
“The Bledisloe Cup has always been incredibly important to this team and teams before us. It’s those teams, ourselves, our country and our many fans that inspire and drive us to want to go out and ‘re-take’ the trophy. We’ve never felt that it’s about going out and ‘retaining’ the Cup because it’s always been about earning the right to have it. This Saturday is no different. Both teams will be desperate and hungry for success.”
He’s back! Carlos Spencer is putting on his boots once more for the NZ Barbarian Legends vs Pacific Legends match in Hamilton.
Spencer chats to the @skysportnz team about the curtain raiser to the All Blacks v Tonga match in Hamilton.
FULL STORY ?? https://t.co/xSTQeMwBoc pic.twitter.com/gmSDpq3Q25
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) 6 August 2019
Commenting on Australia, Hansen added: “Australia have started this Investec Rugby Championship well. Their set piece has been very good and if we are to beat them, we’ll need to take them on at set piece time and try and take away the quality of their possession.”
Hansen has also commended Perth on making the team feel so welcome this week
“On behalf of the All Blacks, I’d like to thank the West Coast Eagles and Hale School for the use of their outstanding facilities. I’d also like to thank the wider community of Perth for their welcome and hospitality. We know that we have a huge number of fans here and it almost feels like we’re playing at home. We look forward to seeing all the black in the stands on Saturday.”
All Blacks and Rugby Australia to pay tribute to Sir Brian Lochore
The All Blacks have remembered the late Sir Brian Lochore in Perth this week – and will do so again on Saturday, together with Rugby Australia.
Hansen said: “There have been little things done all week. We had a good presentation from Sam Whitelock (on Tuesday night) talking about Sir Brian’s career and had some other people speak during that presentation, and we’ll also be putting his All Black number ‘637’ on the jersey. We’re proud to be doing it.”
As well, as a mark of respect to Sir Brian, and demonstrating the close connection between the two national unions, Rugby Australia will also be holding a moment’s silence before Saturday’s Test.
Interesting facts
• The All Blacks and Australia will be playing their 165th Test against each other. New Zealand has won 114 of those matches, Australia 43 with seven draws.
• The All Blacks have also held The Bledisloe Cup (played between New Zealand and Australia) since 2003
• The last match between the two sides was a 37-20 win to the All Blacks at Yokohama Stadium in Japan in October last year. The All Blacks also won the other two matches last year: 40-12 in Auckland and 38-13 in Sydney.
• In their last outing against South Africa, the All Blacks became the first team in Test rugby history to score more than 16,000 points.
• All Blacks Captain Kieran read will be playing his 120th Test, Samuel Whitelock his 110th, Aaron Smith his 85th and Scott Barrett his 30th.
• The All Blacks will be playing an historic first Test in Perth. However, the All Blacks have played state and other selections seven times in Perth, most recently in 1992.
• Perth is unique in All Blacks history as it hosted two All Blacks matches on the same day, on 14 June 1970. The All Blacks squad on its way to a tour of South Africa stopped off and played matches against a President’s XV followed by a game against Western Australia. Three All Blacks, wings Bill Davis and Bruce Hunter and loose forward Bevan Holmes, played both games.
• Another All Black from the Presidents XV match, Jamie Hendrie, also holds a unique spot in All Blacks history. Hendrie, a 19-year-old Scottish medical student playing for the University of Western Australia, was called in to play the match because All Blacks halfback Sid Going didn’t play on Sundays. Though the match was an exhibition match of sorts, it was given full All Blacks status, so Hendrie became All Black number 680.
• The 2019 Investec Rugby Championship is the eighth edition of the expanded annual Southern Hemisphere rugby tournament. The All Blacks won the Rugby Championship in 2012 – 2014 and again in 2016 – 2018. (as well as a Rugby Championship “Grand Slam” in 2012 – 2013 and 2016-2017).
Investec Rugby Championship – All Blacks Tests
1. Argentina 16 All Blacks 20, Saturday 20 July, Jose Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires
2. All Blacks 16 South Africa 16. Saturday 27 July, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
3. vs. AUSTRALIA. Saturday 10 August, 5.45PM (9.45PM NZT), Optus Stadium, Perth
Is this the greatest opening five minutes of a Test the All Blacks have ever played? #BledisloeCup ??? pic.twitter.com/0qaP1qeADz
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) 7 August 2019
