White to tackle All Blacks

By Mark Stevens
15/8/19

Australia coach Michael Cheika has kept faith with the team that produced a record victory over the All Blacks last weekend and made only one injury-enforced change for Saturday’s second Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park.

That means Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Nic White - who scored a try in their 47-26 victory over the All Blacks last Saturday in Perth - keeps his place as the Wallabies look to lift the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.

The sole change in personnel to the starting XV sees Adam Coleman moves up from the bench to replace the injured Rory Arnold in the second row with Rob Simmons coming into the match-day 23 as lock cover.

Arnold suffered a hand injury in last week’s and was replaced by Coleman in the 55th minute, although the Wallabies did not lose any of the aggression that laid the foundation for the victory.

“I think it was pretty straighforward this time, we wanted to give those guys another opportunity,” said Cheika. “With Rory’s exclusion, I thought Adam did a good job coming on to finish the game.”

In other changes to the bench, uncapped loose forward Liam Wright looks set for his Test debut, while 35-year-old outside back Adam Ashley-Cooper gets a chance to press for a trip to a fourth World Cup.

“Liam Wright ... has been competing so hard at training, I just thought it was a good opportunity for him to get in the game,” Cheika added.

“Adam Ashley-Cooper hasn’t had (an opportunity) yet and he’s got good experience and has good communication. It’s going to be noisy and the heat is going to be up and he’s a cool cucumber out there. He’s really hungry.”

The Wallabies only need to draw on Saturday to regain the Bledisloe Cup but have not beaten New Zealand at Eden Park since 1986.

Injured loose forward David Pocock was left out of the 23-man squad despite training with the Wallabies in Melbourne this week. The 31-year-old has not played since March due to a calf injury, but Cheika said he would feature in Australia’s final warm-up match in Sydney on September 7th.

“It was so close,” Cheika added “I think we’ll definitely see him out on the field against Samoa.”

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen meanwhile has rung the changes for Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash, with the experienced trio of Ben Smith, Owen Franks and Rieko Ioane all dropped from the side.

Nepo Laulala comes in for Franks at tight-head prop while wingers Smith and Ioane have been replaced by George Bridge, making his first start in his fourth test, and Sevu Reece, who has just one previous Test cap.

Australia: Kurtley Beale; Marika Koroibete, James O’Connor, Samu Kerevi, Reece Hodge; Christian Lealiifano, Nic White; Scott Sio, Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Izack Rodda, Adam Coleman, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Michael Hooper (capt), Isi Naisarani.

Replacements: Folau Fainga’a, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Liam Wright, Will Genia, Matt Toomua, Adam Ashley-Cooper.

New Zealand: Beauden Barrett; Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, George Bridge; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Whitelock, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Kieran Read (capt).

Replacements: Codie Taylor, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Angus Ta’avao, Jackson Hemopo, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Ngani Laumape, Jordie Barrett.