Eddie Jones’ Wallabies will face the identical All Black team that beat them 50-21 in Sydney three weeks ago in the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup rugby union test at Auckland on Saturday.
Jones’ New Zealand opposite John Mitchell on Wednesday named the run-on 15 which trounced Australia by a record score at Stadium Australia for a match that marks the All Blacks’ test centenary.
Mitchell has made four changes, all among the forwards, from the team which beat South Africa 19-11 at Dunedin last weekend to clinch the Tri-Nations title.
He has reinstalled the front row which played in the Sydney test, recalled rugged lock Chris Jack and restored tearaway flanker Ritchie McCaw.
Meanwhile, Jones has made one injury-enforced change to his team for the match, recalling veteran prop Glenn Panoho in place of Patricio Noriega who has a groin strain.
Panoho’s promotion from the reserves bench comes although he is also reported to be struggling with a leg injury. His place on the Wallaby bench has been taken by the uncapped New South Wales prop Alistair Baxter.
”Al’s a very good, athletic prop who has a very high work rate and I’m sure he’ll handle the step up,” Jones said.
Jones has named No. 8 Toutai Kefu in his staring lineup, though the bullocking loose-forward remains in doubt because of neck and calf injuries. Kefu will be given until Saturday to prove his fitness.
The changes made by Mitchell on Wednesday appear to restore his strongest lineup.
His backline is unchanged and the return of McCaw, Jack and the front row of Greg Somerville, Keven Mealamu and Dave Hewett reunite the All Blacks’ No. 1 pack.
”We’re not so much rewarding the guys who played in Sydney, we just believe this is the right 22 to play against Australia,” Mitchell said.
The Wallabies’ preparation for a match in which they risk relinquishing the Bledisloe Cup to New Zealand after five years has been disrupted by injuries and a chicken pox scare.
Mitchell said Wednesday he doubted Australia’s problems were as great as they wanted the All Blacks to believe.
”There seems to be a lot of things going on like chicken pox, John O’Neill talking about the World Cup, calf injuries. There’s a whole lot of things,” he said.
”I’m not so sure what to read into it to be fair, I think it could be a bit of deception.”
Mitchell said he was not inclined to believe the team named by Jones on Wednesday was the one which would take the field.
”They’ll still put out a pretty good side, I’m not too worried about the individuals as such,” he said.
Teams:
NEW ZEALAND: Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga, Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko, Carlos Spencer, Justin Marshall, Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Reuben Thorne, Greg Somerville, Keven Mealamu, Dave Hewett. Reserves: Leon MacDonald, Daniel Carter, Steve Devine, Marty Holah, Brad Thorn,
Kees Meeuws, Mark Hammett.
AUSTRALIA: Chris Latham, Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Elton Flatley, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (captain), Toutai Kefu, Phil Waugh, George Smith, Daniel Vickerman, David Giffin, Glenn Panoho, Brendan Cannon, Bill Young. Reserves: Jeremy Paul, Alastair Baxter, Nathan Sharpe, Owen Finegan, Chris Whitaker, Matt Giteau, Matthew Burke. – Sapa-AP