TANE Edmed will be tasked with saving Australia’s slim Rugby Championship hopes in the final home Test of the year, after being named at five-eighth for the clash against the All Blacks on Saturday.

Edmed will partner returning halfback Jake Gordon in the must-win game, while Will Skelton has returned to bolster the forward pack and Rob Valetini comes off the bench.

James O’Connor has been dropped to the bench after last weekend’s 33-24 loss to the Kiwis in Auckland, while Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Corey Toole and Carlo Tizzano are out of the squad altogether.

“The squad has dusted themselves off from the disappointment in Auckland and they’ve worked away this week, in preparation for what’s going to be another torrid Test match against New Zealand on Saturday,” Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said.

There are five changes to the starting XV from last weekend’s Test in Auckland, with Filipo Daugunu earning his first start of the year on the left wing, Allan Alaalatoa starting at tighthead prop, to join the new halves pairing.

Alaalatoa will start in an all-Brumbies front row, with Billy Pollard named at hooker and Australian record holder James Slipper at loosehead prop in what will be his 151st and final appearance in Wallaby gold – the Test serving as the deciding round of the 2025 Rugby Championship.

Skelton reignites his combination with Nick Frost in the second row, while there is an unchanged loose forward trio of Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight and captain Harry Wilson – with the side set to wear their First Nations jersey for what is their final home Test of 2025.

Centre partners Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will continue to build their connection in the midfield, while Daugunu joins winger Harry Potter and fullback Max Jorgensen in the back three.

Queensland’s Josh Nasser has been named as the replacement hooker, with Tom Robertson and Taniela Tupou the substitute props.

Western Force skipper Jeremy Williams will play in front of his adopted hometown of Perth for the first time, while back-to-back John Eales Medallist Valetini is named on the bench after recovering from calf tightness.

Newly capped scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan earns another chance in gold having come on to play 62 minutes in his debut last weekend, with O’Connor the replacement playmaker. The versatile Josh Flook rounds out the matchday 23 in what will be his first Test of 2025.

The All Blacks have also made several changes, some due to injury, with Damian McKenzie replacing Beauden Barrett at five-eighth, Quinn Tupaia replacing a “banged up” Billy Proctor at outside centre, and Leicester Fainga’anuku on the wing, while Peter Lakai starts at No.8 and Wallace Sititi comes off the bench.