All Blacks make mass changes for Bledisloe IV, name four test debutants

The All Blacks team has been named to play Australia in the Investec Tri Nations Test at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Saturday November 7.

Four players have been named in a Test team for the first time. In an eagerly-awaited Test debut, loose forward Akira Ioane, who first pulled on the black jersey in a non-Test on the All Blacks’ 2017 Northern Hemisphere tour, will start in the six jersey in. Hooker Asafo Aumua, who also played two non-Tests on the same tour, is also set to make his Test debut from the bench alongside two 2020 All Blacks, 20-year-old loose forward Cullen Grace and 22-year-old outside back Will Jordan.

It will also be a special day for lock Samuel Whitelock, who will make his 100th Test start for New Zealand in his 120th Test, becoming just the fifth player to start in a century of Tests for the All Blacks.

There are also a number of other changes to the matchday 23 which claimed the Bledisloe Cup in Sydney on Saturday.

Codie Taylor starts at hooker, while Scott Barrett starts in the second row, with Patrick Tuipulotu moving to the bench. Ardie Savea returns to the number eight jersey, alongside Ioane, and Captain Sam Cane, with Grace coming in for Dalton Papalii as reserve loose forward.

In the backs, TJ Perenara starts at halfback, with Brad Weber to come off the bench in his first appearance of 2020. Beauden Barrett will start at 10 with Damian McKenzie coming onto the bench, while Ngani Laumape starts at second five-eighth.

In the outside backs, Jordie Barrett starts at fullback and Rieko Ioane starts on the left wing, with Sevu Reece also making his first start of 2020 on the right wing.

All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said: “We have reset this week and our focus has been on this weekend and the Investec Tri Nations. It’s an All Blacks ? Wallabies Test and that’s special. We know how fired up they’ll be, so we have to make sure we are as well, because we don’t want to give ourselves any excuses at the end of it.”

In making a number of changes to the squad, Foster explained: “We’ve been really delighted with the whole squad, so we feel that there are some players who are really putting their hand up and deserve an opportunity.

“Secondly, it’s been a big three-week Test series to date against Australia; it’ll be another massive Test, so we’ve brought in some freshness and new energy into the group. Players are jumping out of their skins to get onto the park.”

Foster said the four players named to play their first Test had all been working hard and had earnt the opportunity.

“We’ve been really impressed with Akira. He’s keen, he’s ready and to have his first Test start is pretty special. I know Asafo is also excited for his first Test and he’ll bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm when he comes off the bench.

“Cullen Grace is a young man who has also been very impressive. He’s got a nice, quiet demeanour about him, but we know he’s excited. Will Jordan has also been working really hard; he’s settled in really, really well and he’s got a calmness about him. He’s been doing a great job behind the scenes and we’re delighted he’s got his opportunity.”

In a unique build-up to the Test, Covid-19 protocols for the Tournament mean the All Blacks will fly from Sydney into Brisbane several hours before the game and return to Sydney post game.

Foster said the team were ready for the unique circumstances.

“We have to change the structure of our game day preparation, but we don’t have to change the approach. It’s obviously going to be a different Test day for us, but it doesn’t mean it’s going to be disruptive. We’ve worked hard on getting a structure in place that we think is the right one for Saturday and just have to make sure that when the whistle goes, we are ready.”

All Blacks:

1.  Karl Tu'inukuafe (15)

2.  Codie Taylor (53)

3.  Ofa Tuungafasi (38)

4.  Scott Barrett (38)

5.  Samuel Whitelock (119)

6.  Akira Ioane *

7.  Sam Cane (71) - captain

8.  Ardie Savea (46)

9.  TJ Perenara (67)

10.  Beauden Barrett (85)

11. Rieko Ioane (31)

12. Ngani Laumape (14)

13.  Anton Lienert-Brown (46)

14.  Sevu Reece (7)

15.  Jordie Barrett (20)

Reserves:

16.  Asafo Aumua *

17.  Alex Hodgman (2)

18.  Tyrel Lomax (3)

19. Patrick Tuipulotu (33)

20.  Cullen Grace *

21.  Brad Weber (5)

22.  Damian McKenzie (25)

23.  Will Jordan *

- All Blacks Rugby