All Blacks veteran Beauden Barrett. (Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
- Beauden Barrett is back at fullback for the All Blacks in Saturday’s Test against Australia in Sydney.
- He comes in at fullback as the All Blacks have made four changes from the team that lost to South Africa in Cape Town.
- Meanwhile, James Slipper is poised to become the most capped Wallaby ever after being named on Australia’s bench for the Test.
- For more rugby news, visit our dedicated section.
Veteran Beauden Barrett was recalled to the New Zealand team named on Thursday to face Australia in the Rugby Championship as All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson made four changes.
Barrett, 33, who has played 130 Tests, was dropped from the starting side for the loss to South Africa in Cape Town.
He comes in at fullback against the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday, replacing Will Jordan who switches to the wing.
The back three combination of Barrett, Jordan and Caleb Clarke ran riot when the All Blacks thrashed Argentina 42-10 in Auckland last month.
“We felt it was the best mix, the best balance for us to put Beauden to fullback and Will on the wing,” Robertson told reporters.
“He (Jordan) has played some great Test footy on the wing. Just because he’s starting on the wing doesn’t mean he can’t finish at fullback.”
The All Blacks boss is under pressure with New Zealand having won just one of their last four games, losing both Tests in South Africa after a shock home defeat in Wellington against Argentina last month.
All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea admitted the defeats have frustrated the team.
“We’re creating great opportunities, we’re not being able to take them and finish them off,” he said.
Loosehead prop Ethan de Groot has recovered from a neck injury to take the place of Tamaiti Williams, who drops to the bench.
Wing Clarke takes over from Mark Tele’a, who misses the match day squad.
New Zealand are out of contention to retain the Rugby Championship with the Springboks top of the table. Australia sits bottom after losing three of their four matches.
Slipper to become most-capped Wallaby
Meanwhile, James Slipper is poised to become the most capped Wallaby ever after being named on Australia’s bench for the Test.
The 35-year-old prop, who made his debut 14 years ago, will surpass scrumhalf George Gregan with his 140th cap should he take to the field, as expected.
Slipper will move to outright sixth on the all-time global list behind Wales’s Alun Wyn Jones (171), with Irish great Brian O’Driscoll (141) next in his sights.
Australia are desperate for a win after a stunning Rugby Championship capitulation in Argentina a fortnight ago, where they led 20-3 before collapsing to a demoralising 67-27 defeat.
“The players have reconnected well this week for our last game on home soil this year,” coach Joe Schmidt said in announcing five changes to the starting side.
“We’ve acknowledged the poor finish to our time in Argentina and we’re keen to turn that around on what will be a particularly special day for James and his family.”
Among the changes, misfiring halves pair Jake Gordon and Ben Donaldson have been dropped and replaced by veteran Nic White and Noah Lolesio.
Centre Hunter Paisami and fullback Tom Wright return from injury, while flanker Fraser McReight is back after recovering from a broken finger.
McReight is the only change to the run-on forward pack with Angus Bell, Matt Faessler and Taniela Tupou in the front row and Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams continuing their partnership as locks.
Blindside flanker Rob Valetini and skipper Harry Wilson join McReight as the loose forward trio.
On the bench, Brandon Paenga-Amosa will pull on the gold jersey for the first time since 2021 after returning from a stint in France, joining Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa in an experienced replacement front row.
New Zealand have owned the Bledisloe Cup since 2003 and have lost just one of their last 12 Tests against Australia, but head into the match on the back of consecutive defeats to South Africa.
Australia travel to face the All Blacks in Wellington next week.
The teams will play for the Bledisloe Cup, which New Zealand has held since 2003.
Teams:
Australia
15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell
Substitutes: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Dylan Pietsch
New Zealand
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 (captain), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Substitutes: 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
