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All Blacks make five changes for Aaron Smith's 100th test
By Tom Vinicombe
The All Blacks will roll out their first-string lineup for their clash with the Wallabies on Saturday, with halfback Aaron Smith set to play his 100th match.
Head coach Ian Foster has made five changes to the team that ran out against Fiji last month.
The front row remains unchanged with 2021 debutant George Bower partnering Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor and Blues tighthead Nepo Laulala.
Captain Samuel Whitelock will partner Brodie Retallick in the second row, who's rapidly readjusting to the intensity of test rugby after a year-long absence. In the loose forwards, Ardie Savea shifts to the back of the scrum while Dalton Papalii, freshly returned from a lingering calf injury, will slot in at No 7.
Smith, who will become the first All Blacks halfback to play 100 tests, will partner Richie Mo'unga - who has won the battle with Beauden Barrett to guide the team around the park as the key playmaker.
David Havili and Anton Lienert-Brown will also continue to build on their partnership in the midfield.
In the outside backs, Damian McKenzie has been named ahead of Jordie Barrett at fullback while Sevu Reece will swap back to the right wing and Rieko Ioane will come into the run-on side on the left.
In the reserves, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Angus Ta'avao and Dane Coles will add impetus in the front row while Scott Barrett covers lock.
Luke Jacobson will cover all three loose forward roles off the bench while Brad Weber has unsurprisingly been named as back-up to Smith.
Brothers Beauden and Jordie Barrett will cover the remaining backline positions.
“There is huge excitement in our group at what lies ahead this weekend," said Ian Foster. "There is such a huge history with the Bledisloe Cup, the rivalry between the All Blacks and Australia goes back a long, long way, and it’s always a massive contest. The Cup isn’t ours; we have to go out and win it again. We can’t wait for the weekend.”
On Aaron Smith’s special milestone, Foster said: “He’s a special man, he’s achieved so much in the black jersey and has been an iconic player for us over the last decade. We know it’ll be a special night for him, his wife Teagan and his family.”
Saturday's match kicks off at 7:05pm NZT from Eden Park in Auckland.
All Blacks: Damian McKenzie, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, George Bower. Reserves: Dane Coles, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Angus Ta'avao, Scott Barrett, Luke Jacobson, Brad Weber, Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett.
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Latest Comments
Ford completely took the energy out the game for us, waving his hands telling people to calm down. Just for us to die off and lose the momentum.
Bringing him on all the time to ‘close out’ games is condescending to Smith. Get Ford out and let Marcus Smith & Fin Smith run the show. The future is them so give them the keys and let them get on with it.
Go to commentsTaking Marcus Smith off was a big puzzle and probably cost England the game. However, Abs created more opportunities and scored some tries but left a lot out there through sloppy execution, not playing to the ref and no enforcement of English off-side play. The fact the game was close all through made it worth watching but it was a frustrating pectacle. English succeeded in slowing the game down and were in the refs ear which Gardner allowed. I think Ireland or France will punish the sloppy execution more than England so still much for ABs to work on.
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