After having beaten the All Blacks in last year’s Bledisloe 3, the Wallabies have their sights set on reclaiming the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in 16 years. This video shows some of those memorable moments from last year, as we lead up to Saturday’s kick-off.
The Wallabies were triumphant in last year’s contest between the two sides, albeit a dead-rubber, beating the All Blacks 23-18 in Brisbane.
In order to change the course of recent history, they need to channel any momentum left over from that match, especially considering they dropped their June Test series with Ireland.
The All Blacks have once again been named the team to beat in this year’s Rugby Championship, a theme that Michael Chieka’s boys will be all too familiar with. That said, the Wallabies themselves feature a significant amount of Test experience and will fancy themselves at home.
MATCH FACTS & STATS:
– Australia beat New Zealand in their last match. However, they’ve not beaten the All Blacks in back-to-back matches since 2001-2002, when they beat them three matches in a row.
– New Zealand have won the last four out of five matchups.
– During their June Test series, the All Blacks averaged 14.7 clean breaks per match against France, the most of any tier one nation. The Wallabies averaged the fewest with four per game.
– Israel Folau has scored six tries in 15 games against New Zealand. Only four have crossed more – Adam Ashley-Cooper (9), David Campese (8), Bryan Habana (8), Matt Burke (7).
– Sam Whitelock will play in his 100th test match.
Kick-off on Saturday is at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, 8.05pm (AEST)
WALLABIES
15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lukhan Tui, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Tom Robertson.
Subs: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Jack Maddocks.
ALL BLACKS
15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith; 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Subs: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Karl Tu’inukuake, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
Credit: Rugby.com.au
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