Scott Robertson has made seven changes to his starting line-up and a further five to the bench as the All Blacks name a much-changed 23 for the second Bledisloe Cup encounter.
Four of them are because of injury while captain Scott Barrett returns after recovering from his shoulder issue, but there is no place in the 23 for breakout star Fabian Holland and centre Billy Proctor.
Holland has been an ever-present since he made his debut at the start of the Test season but he has been replaced in the line-up by the skipper.
With Patrick Tuipulotu seen as the better impact option off the bench, it means that Holland is out of the 23 for the first time this year.
There are two more big decisions as Wallace Sititi drops to the bench and Proctor is omitted entirely, with the latter the most significant call.
Robertson has backed the Hurricanes star as the player to solve that problem 13 slot but, after several underwhelming displays, the 26-year-old has handed over the reins to Quinn Tupaea for the second Wallabies encounter.
Peter Lakai takes Sititi’s place in the XV and he joins a loose trio which also features Ardie Savea and Simon Parker.
Injury-enforced changes
In total, there are four alterations to the All Blacks pack with the final two coming in the front-row as Fletcher Newell and Tamaiti Williams come in for the injured Tyrel Lomax and Ethan de Groot respectively.
Behind the scrum, Tupaea partners Jordie Barrett in the midfield while Leicester Fainga’anuku makes his Test return after spending 18 months at Toulon.
Fainga’anuku starts after Caleb Clarke sustained an ankle problem last weekend and he is one of two injury-enforced changes in the backline.
Damian McKenzie is the other following Beauden Barrett’s shoulder issue and he combines with Cam Roigard in the key decision-making positions.
That means Ruben Love will not get an opportunity in the 10 shirt from the start, with the inexperienced playmaker having to make do with a place on the bench.
Also among the replacements is Rieko Ioane, who can cover both wing and centre, and he joins Cortez Ratima as backline cover.
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Up front, George Bower and Pasilio Tosi are the new names in the squad while Sititi, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Tuipulotu complete the 23.
“We saw how competitive and determined the Wallabies were in Auckland last weekend, staying in the fight right to the end,” Robertson said.
“We expect another tough contest this Saturday. We have picked a 23 to go toe-to-toe with a quality Australian team.
“It’s all up for grabs in what has been the most even Rugby Championship we’ve ever seen; and we’re here to cap off this competition with a performance we can be proud of.”
All Blacks team to face Wallabies
All Blacks: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams
Replacements: 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
Date: Saturday, October 4
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 17:45 local time (10:45 BST, 09:45 GMT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SARU)