Rugby: Rugby-All Blacks rejig back three for Wallabies clash

SYDNEY (Reuters) – The All Blacks have brought Beauden Barrett back into the starting line-up at fullback for the Rugby Championship test against the Wallabies on Saturday, which doubles as the first of two Bledisloe Cup tests.

New Zealand go into the match on the back of successive losses to the world champion Springboks and coach Scott Robertson has made four changes, one positional, to his run-on side for the clash at Stadium Australia.

Beauden Barrett’s return in the number 15 jersey means a shift to the right wing for Will Jordan with Caleb Clarke recalled to the left wing after recovering from injury. Mark Tele’a drops to the bench as back three cover.

Up front, loosehead prop Ethan de Groot, also returning from injury, slots straight back into the starting front row with hooker Codie Taylor and Tyrel Lomax.

Tamaiti Williams drops to the bench as cover for de Groot alongside tighthead prop Pasilio Tosi, who looks set to win his second cap in the absence of the injured Fletcher Newell.

New Zealand are expected to get back to winning ways in convincing fashion on Saturday, having lost only one of their last 12 meetings with their trans-Tasman Sea rivals.

Australia last held the Bledisloe Cup in 2002.

“We have selected an experienced team which has combinations that have played some of our best rugby this season,” Robertson said in a news release.

“The Bledisloe Cup is so revered by both of these teams, we are expecting a classic showdown against our Australian rivals.”

Team: 15-Beauden Barrett, 14-Will Jordan, 13-Rieko Ioane, 12-Jordie Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 10-Damian McKenzie, 9-Cortez Ratima, 8-Ardie Savea, 7-Sam Cane, 6-Wallace Sititi, 5-Tupou Vaa’i, 4-Scott Barrett (captain), 3-Tyrel Lomax, 2-Codie Taylor, 1-Ethan de Groot

Replacements: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Sam Darry, 20-Luke Jacobson, 21-TJ Perenara, 22-Anton Lienert-Brown, 23-Sevu Reece

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Toby Davis)