Thursday 19 October 2017 07:21, UK
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made one enforced change to his starting side to play the All Blacks in the third and final Bledisloe Cup test, live on Sky Sports on Saturday, promoting lock Rob Simmons from the bench to replace the injured Izack Rodda.
Rookie Rodda was ruled out of rest of the season this week to undergo shoulder surgery, so the experienced Simmons will partner Adam Coleman in the second row.
Hooker Stephen Moore, named on the bench in the team announced on Thursday, has been assured of a farewell to home fans at Lang Park as the retiring former captain winds down his international career.
Prop Tetera Faulkner has been replaced by Tom Robertson in the reserves, with blindside flanker Ned Hanigan also coming back into the matchday 23 on the bench.
The Wallabies, who already trail 2-0, will bid to prevent the world champions from sweeping the series. The world champions denied the Wallabies with a converted try less than two minutes from full-time to scrape home 35-29 in a cliff-hanger in Dunedin in August.
The victory meant the All Blacks claimed the Bledisloe Cup, contested between the two sides, for a 15th consecutive year with the Wallabies only winning once in their last 18 meetings.
The Cup may be gone for another year but star centre Kurtley Beale is confident the Australians, who will wear an indigenous-themed jersey to honour Aborigines' role in rugby, can finish their home season with an uplifting win.
"I think that (Dunedin) was a huge game for us to get a good understanding of where we are at as a playing squad," Beale said.
"The more we play, the better we are getting. That's the positive. We're still building towards what we believe we can achieve."
The All Blacks have opted not to risk fly-half Beauden Barrett after his recent head knock, with Lima Sopoaga to start at No 10.
Although Barrett was cleared of concussion after a clash playing South Africa two weeks ago, he has suffered dizziness and headaches since.
The only other change in the All Blacks' starting line up is the return of Waisake Naholo on the right wing for the injured Nehe Milner-Skudder.
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Marika Koroibete, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Reece Hodge, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia; 1 Scott Sio, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Rob Simmons, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 Sean McMahon
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Tui, 20 Ned Hanigan, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Samu Kerevi, 23 Henry Speight
Watch Australia v New Zealand on Saturday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Arena at 10:45am.
