Scott Barrett leads All Blacks in Bledisloe bash against Wallabies

All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson has named his All Blacks team to play Australia in the fifth round of the Rugby Championship and first Bledisloe Cup test at Accor Stadium, Sydney.

There are four changes to the All Blacks starting team named to play the Wallabies in Sydney and two in the reserves.  

In the forwards, Ethan de Groot has returned from his neck injury to start at loosehead prop, while Pasilio Tosi will prepare to play just his second All Blacks test match, having debuted off the bench against Fiji in San Diego earlier in the season.  

In the backs, it is a return of the back three that helped to create a lot of attacking momentum against the Springboks in Johannesburg and against Argentina in their second test. Caleb Clarke has recovered from his back injury to take the left wing; Will Jordan will take the other wing and Beauden Barrett will start at fullback.  

"We have selected an experienced team which has combinations that have played some of our best rugby this season," said Robertson.

"The Bledisloe Cup is so revered by both of these teams, we are expecting a classic showdown against our Australian rivals. We have acknowledged the rich history of the Cup this week as a team and recognise that history does not bestow any rights. The Bledisloe Cup is always hard-earned and each year is its own chapter in the Bledisloe story."

All Blacks - 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa'i, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot

Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Sevu Reece

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