Desperate Eddie Jones rolls the dice for Bledisloe One
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Under-pressure Wallabies coach Eddie Jones rolled the dice with a new-look “young, vibrant” side to face the All Blacks in Melbourne.
Australia head into the Melbourne Cricket Ground game on Saturday, in front of an expected 80,000 fans, after consecutive Rugby Championship defeats to South Africa and Argentina.
Should the All Blacks win they will retain not only the Rugby Championship title, but also the Trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup, which Australia has not got its hands on since 2002.
Former England boss Jones is without a win since taking over from Dave Rennie, and again shuffled the deck as he continues his search for his best side to field at the September-October World Cup in France.
The biggest surprise among seven changes to the run-on team was Test rookie Carter Gordon getting the nod at flyhalf ahead of 78-Test stalwart Quade Cooper, who started the last two matches.
Gordon will partner scrumhalf Tate McDermott, preferred to another veteran Nic White as Jones looks to freshen up the underperforming team.
Equally surprising was co-skipper James Slipper dropping to the bench, with Angus Bell linking up with hooker David Porecki and tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa.
As expected, fellow co-skipper Michael Hooper was not among the 23 as he continues to recover from a calf injury, with Brumbies captain Alaalatoa taking the armband.
(Eddie Jones chats about finding the right mix for the Wallabies …)
“We are a team that wants to make Australia proud, and Saturday is a great opportunity to light up the MCG,” said Jones.
“A young starting 15 and vibrant, experienced finishers will give us the 80 minutes we want. Wallaby rugby versus New Zealand rugby, it’s the most important game of the year.”
Among other changes, Jordan Petaia returns at outside centre after a long injury lay-off and will partner Samu Kerevi in the midfield.
Andrew Kellaway will also play his first Test of the year at fullback alongside Marika Koroibete and Mark Nawaqanitawase on the wings.
Australia: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Tom Hooper, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Nic White, 22 Quade Cooper, 23 Izaia Perese.
Date: Saturday, July 29
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Kick-off: 19.45 (21.45 New Zealand’s time; 09.45 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
