Allblacks coach Steve Hansen has named a strong New Zealand line-up to face the Wallabies this Saturday in the Rugby Championship: Bledisloe Cup opener. In the Allblacks starting 23 there are some familiar faces that were missing during the British and Irish Lions Tour. Sonny Bill slots back in at second five with Crotty slotting in at thirteen, more noticeable is the inclusion of the young and exciting Chiefs fullback, Damian McKenzie.
In the forwards, Liam Squire has big boots to fill, taking up Jerome Kaino’s number six jumper, with Cane at seven and Read at eight.
Hansen will use this game as a yardstick to measure key aspects of the game that they have been working on as a team, since the Lions tour.
Allblacks Team
- Joe Moody
- Codie Taylor
- Owen Franks
- Brodie Retallick
- Samuel Whitelock
- Liam Squire
- Sam Cane
- Kieran Read
- Aaron Smith
- Beauden Barrett
- Reiko Ioane
- Sonny Bill Williams
- Rryan Crotty
- Ben Smith
- Damian McKenzie
- Nathan Harris
- Wyatt Crocket
- Ofa Tu’ungafasi
- Luke Romano
- Ardie Savea
- T J Perenara
- Lima Sopoanga
- Anton Lienert-Brown
Kick-Off: 12:00 pm CAT
