All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has moved Damian McKenzie on from number 10 as he searches for answers to New Zealand’s scratchy form under his tenure.
Beauden Barrett will start from the pivotal position on Saturday when the All Blacks take on the Wallabies, the Bledisloe Cup already secured for a 22nd straight year.
ABC Sport will be live blogging the Bledisloe Cup clash from 4:00pm AEST on Saturday.
New Zealand will be packed with experience in Wellington, with all but one of the run-on team — blindside flanker Wallace Sititi — with at least 20 Tests.
Former captain Sam Cane, who will earn his 100th cap, and hometown hero TJ Perenara, back in the XV for Cortez Ratima, will make their last international appearances in New Zealand.
Both are off to play club rugby in Japan next season, making them ineligible to wear a black shirt.
Beauden Barrett (left) has taken the 10 shirt from Damian McKenzie. (Getty Images: Hagen Hopkins)
“This will be a particularly special night for Sam and TJ and the boys will put in a performance that honours their contribution to this team,” Robertson said.
“Sam will be joining an exclusive club of All Black centurions which is testament to his fortitude and work ethic.
“As a Wellington man and the most-capped Hurricane of all time we know that TJ is a crowd favourite in the capital and we look forward to him expressing himself on the field in front of friends and whanau at home.”
McKenzie will start on the bench.
The All Blacks defeated Australia 31-28 last Saturday in Sydney and are firm favourites to back up their road win with a home success given the Wallabies have not beaten the Kiwis in New Zealand since 2001.
However, they cannot win the Rugby Championship after an inconsistent run in the southern hemisphere championship.
Robertson’s side has lost twice to South Africa and a home Test to Argentina to sit third in the standings — above only the hapless Australia.
ALL BLACKS TEAM FOR BLEDISLOE II:
Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett (capt), Tupou Vaa’i, Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Jacobson, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, David Havili.
AP/AAP
