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LIVE: All Blacks vs Wallabies | Bledisloe Cup II
By RugbyPass
Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the Bledisloe Cup clash between the All Blacks and Wallabies at Coopers Catch Park in Auckland.
Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation from anywhere in the world in our Live Match Centre (click here).
The All Blacks side features the selection of another new cap, with prop Alex Hodgman set to make his test debut from the bench, while two other new All Blacks, lock Tupou Vaa’i and winger Caleb Clarke, are making their first test start in their second tests.
Hodgman is one of several changes in the matchday 23 forwards, with hooker Dane Coles starting and Codie Taylor on the bench, while prop Nepo Laulala returns via the bench alongside Hodgman.
Lock Sam Whitelock is going through head injury assessment (HIA) protocols and was unavailable for selection, so Tupou will start alongside Patrick Tuipulotu.
As well, there is a welcome return via the bench for 36-test Scott Barrett, after a four-month injury layoff.
In the backs, Anton Lienert-Brown has been named at centre, while Rieko Ioane will provide impact from the bench.
George Bridge, who suffered a serious pectoral injury in training on Wednesday, makes way for Clarke on the left wing.
Beauden Barrett resumes his position at fullback after his late withdrawal last week, with Damien McKenzie on the bench.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, meanwhile, has made four changes to the Wallabies side as they look to improve on their draw in Sunday’s Bledisloe Cup showdown with the All Blacks in Auckland.
Hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and blindside flanker Ned Hanigan come into the starting side, while Queensland duo Liam Wright and Jordan Petaia are new faces on the bench for the Eden Park clash.
It will be Paenga-Amosa’s fifth test and first against New Zealand, replacing Folau Fainga’a who paid the price for the Wallabies stuttering lineout.
Hanigan will start at six, with Harry Wilson shifting to No.8 and Pete Samu axed, while Wright has taken Rob Valetini’s place on the bench.
The starting backline remains unchanged, with Tom Banks holding on to the fullback jersey ahead of veteran Dane Haylett-Petty.
Game-breaker Petaia has overcome a hip injury but Hunter Paisami has held his starting spot in the centres.
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Latest Comments
I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
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