Barrett takes captain's armband as Razor shuffles hand
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Black head coach Scott Robertson has named his team to play Australia at Optus Stadium in the deciding round of the Rugby Championship.
Robertson made six changes to the team that started the first Bledisloe Cup match in Auckland last weekend.
Several of the changes are injury-forced, with Beauden Barrett and Ethan de Groot remaining in New Zealand, while Tyrel Lomax (thumb injury) and Caleb Clarke (ankle) will not play this Test.
Lomax suffered a broken thumb in the first Bledisloe Cup match at Eden Park, and after a scan, will return home to New Zealand.
In the forwards, captain Scott Barrett returns to the side in the No.4 jersey, partnering with Tupou Vaa’i in the second row.
Peter Lakai is set for his first Test start, at No.8, after four previous appearances off the bench, with Wallace Sititi moving into an impact role, while Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell come into the front row
In the backs, Damian McKenzie starts at flyhalf, Leicester Fainga’anuku will play his first Test since the 2023 World Cup, and will start on the left wing.
Quinn Tupaea starts in the No.13 jersey for the first time.
Will Jordan will make his 50th Test appearance in the All Blacks jersey as he runs out on Saturday.
New Zealand: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett (vice-Captain), 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ardie Savea (vice-Captain), 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 George Bower, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Ruben Love.
Date: Saturday, October 4
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 18.05 (22.05 NZST; 10.05 GMT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
Unavailable for selection: Tyrel Lomax (thumb), Caleb Clarke (ankle), Beauden Barrett (shoulder), Ethan de Groot (concussion), Ollie Norris (back), Emoni Narawa (rib fracture), Timoci Tavatavanawai (fractured radius).