Foster shakes up his All Blacks
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Coach Ian Foster has warned that his All Blacks team need to match Australia’s do-or-die mindset in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test or risk a repeat of their Perth trouncing.
The All Blacks have three changes in the forwards for the clash in Sydney, while they have retained the same backline that inflicted a 27-7 victory in the second Test in Auckland.
Hoskins Sotutu will replace new dad Ardie Savea at No.8, while Karl Tu’inukuafe comes in at loosehead prop for Joe Moody, who is out after a head knock.
Veteran Sam Whitelock returns at lock in the starting XV.
Loose forward Dalton Papalii and midfielder Ngani Laumape also make their first appearances of 2020 on the bench.
With a draw in the opening Test in Wellington, the Kiwis can wrap up the prized Trans-Tasman trophy which they’ve held since 2003.
A win by the Wallabies see the Cup decided in the fourth and final Test in Brisbane next month.
Foster was assistant coach to Steve Hansen last year in Perth when the Wallabies shocked the All Blacks 47-29, which is most points they had ever conceded and equal largest margin of defeat.
With the series on the line he expected the Wallabies to be “hungry”.
“We know there’s going to be a massive effort from the Wallabies this week as it’s do-or-die for them and that’s the way they’re going to see it,” Foster said on Thursday.
“The key thing is that we’ve got to make it do or die for us too.
“If we don’t match that hunger level then we can start talking about Perth from last year because clearly we got out-hungered in that game.
“We’re fully aware of the importance that you’ve got to be at 100 per cent in a Test match, particularly when you’re playing away from home.”
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Foster said none of his team had lifted the trophy on Australian soil with it being the first time since 2009 that they had had the opportunity, and he’d consider it a “special achievement”.
“The quirks of the draw in the past make this challenge a bit different,” he said.
“We got ourselves into this position with the draw in the first Test and it’s opened the door.
“We’ve got to make sure that we show our colours when we’re playing away from home, that we can still lift our performance regardless of which country we’re in.”
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Jordie Barrett, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Dalton Papalii, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Ngani Laumape, 23 Rieko Ioane.
Date: Saturday, October 31
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Kick-off: 19.45 AEDT (21.45 NZ time; 08.45 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Paul Williams, Nic Berry
TMO: Angus Gardner
