Harry Potter and Cam Roigard.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
This story has been updated to correct the number of wins in the championship this year.
Wallabies v All Blacks
Kick-off: 10:45pm Saturday 4 October
Optus Stadium, Perth
Live blog updates on RNZ
The Bledisloe Cup is safe for yet another year, but the All Blacks still find themselves with plenty to play for tonight in Perth. That’s because a win would be two in a row for the first time in the Rugby Championship this year and will very much answer some criticism of the team’s inconsistent tendencies.
Meanwhile the Wallabies have plenty to play for, with prop James Slipper set to play his 151st and final test in the gold jersey. As well as that, there will be a sold out 60,000-strong crowd in at Optus Stadium, hoping for a repeat of 2019’s record score the Wallabies put on the All Blacks.
Team lists
Wallabies: 1. James Slipper, 2. Billy Pollard, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Nick Frost, 5. Will Skelton, 6. Tom Hooper, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson (c), 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Tane Edmed, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Len Ikitau, 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14. Harry Potter, 15. Max Jorgensen
Bench: 16. Josh Nasser, 17. Tom Robertson, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Jeremy Williams, 20. Rob Valetini, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. James O’Connor, 23. Josh Flook
All Blacks: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (Captain), 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Ardie Savea (Vice-Captain), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12. Jordie Barrett (Vice-Captain), 13. Quinn Tupaea, 14. Leroy Carter, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. George Bower, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Rieko Ioane, 23. Ruben Love
Wallabies selections
Will Skelton of the Wallabies in action against the British and Irish Lions.
Photo: AAP / Photosport
Five changes to the team that lost last weekend at Eden Park, with the biggest being Will Skelton coming in at lock. Jake Gordon returns at halfback and has Tane Edmed outside him, while Filipo Daugunu gets a start on the left wing. Rob Valentini returns from injury to take a place on the bench, with Josh Flook set for his first appearance of the test season.
All Blacks selections
Quinn Tupaea celebrates.
Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
Scott Robertson has rolled the dice a bit, bringing in Quinn Tupaea to start at centre despite being primarily a second five for the Chiefs. Peter Lakai starts at number eight, which means Wallace Sititi moves to the bench, while Scott Barrett returns to the second row to partner up with late inclusion Fabian Holland, who replaces the injured Tupou Vaa’i. Leicester Fainga’anuku starts on the left wing in his first test since the 2023 World Cup, while George Bower and Pasilio Tosi come onto the bench as prop cover.
Damian McKenzie and Tamaiti Williams start at first five and prop respectively, replacing the injured Beauden Barrett and Ethan de Groot.
Key stats
Will Jordan scores a try.
Photo: Marty Melville / www.photosport.nz
The All Blacks are on a 10-game winning streak against the Wallabies, with the last loss coming five years ago at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
This is the third test played between the two sides in Perth, with it currently being one win apiece. The Wallabies’ win in 2019 ended with the scoreline of 47-29, which remains the highest total the All Blacks have ever conceded.
Will Jordan plays his 50th test, after debuting against the Wallabies in 2020. That match was actually the last time the Wallabies beat the All Blacks, and Jordan’s game only lasted a few minutes before he left the field with an HIA. Since then, he’s scored 43 tries and become one of the most important players in the team.
What they’re saying
Scott Robertson, Joe Schmidt.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
“You get your combinations and then there’s the time to give other guys opportunities. It’s the guys’ chance now who are fresh and hungry to have a crack and that’s the balance of it … every time someone has had an opportunity, they’ve taken it.” – All Black coach Scott Robertson.
“The games are so tough in TRC. For us, I’m really proud of the way the boys have been stepping up against teams that are significantly higher ranked, particularly 18 months ago. I do think there’s growth in the team and I can’t guarantee that’s going to be linear but I can pretty much guarantee the effort’s going to be there.” – Wallaby coach Joe Schmidt.
The last time they met
All Blacks 33 – 24 Wallabies
The All Blacks shot out to a great start, the Wallabies came back but a crucial period towards the end secured victory and the Bledisloe Cup. A late Cam Roigard try sealed the match for the All Blacks but there will very much be a feeling of ‘the one that got away’ for the Wallabies, who made a couple of costly errors at the wrong times with the game in the balance.
What’s going to happen
This one actually feels far tighter to call than last weekend, due to the away factor, the All Blacks’ inability to string two good performances in a row, plus the intriguing Wallaby changes. Expect Skelton to be a focal point at set piece, both on attack as the Wallabies look to use his 145kg frame, and on defence when the All Blacks try and tie him up at the bottom of rucks.
This is a big day too for Damian McKenzie and Tane Edmed, who come in with different reputations that can be massively enhanced with assured performances here.
Expect a big Wallaby wave of emotion as they play their last home test of what’s been a massive one for Australian rugby.