Wallace Sititi, Tupou Vaa’i and Peter Lakai of the All Blacks. Photo: Marty Melville/Photosport
Wallabies v All Blacks - Bledisloe II
Kick-off: 10:45pm Saturday 4 October
Optus Stadium, Perth
Live blog updates on RNZ
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has pulled the trigger on Leicester Fainga'anuku and wielded the axe on Billy Proctor. Fainga'anuku returns to the All Blacks' starting lineup for Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup showdown in Perth, after a stint playing for Toulon in the French Top 14 competition and being fast tracked back into eligibility by NZ Rugby after turning out for Tasman in this year's NPC.
It's one of six changes to the team that beat the Wallabies 33-24 at Eden Park last weekend, with the All Blacks today confirming that Caleb Clarke has joined Beauden Barrett and Ethan de Groot in the casualty ward after picking up an ankle injury. That opening has meant Fainga'anuku will start on the left wing, joining Leroy Carter and Will Jordan, who will play his 50th test, in the back three.
However, the main talking points are the non-injury related changes. Scott Barrett is fit, so comes into the second row, but that leaves no room for rookie Fabian Holland. He drops out of the squad with Tupou Vaa'i starting at lock and Patrick Tuipulotu on the bench.
All Black Leicester Fainga'anuku is tackled by Mark Nawaqanitawase of Australia during the All Black v Wallabies Bledisloe Cup rugby Test at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. Photo: Photosport / John Davidson
Behind them is an intriguing selection, with Peter Lakai given a start at number eight. That moves Wallace Sititi to the bench, while Simon Parker retains the blindside role and Ardie Savea unsurprisingly starts at openside. Up front, Tyrel Lomax has been ruled out with injury, so Fletcher Newell starts with George Bower and Pasilio Tosi coming onto the bench. Lomax suffered a broken thumb at Eden Park and after a scan yesterday, will return home to New Zealand this evening.
There are changes out in the backs, with Quinn Tupaea rewarded for a strong performance off the bench at Eden Park by getting given a start at centre. He replaces Proctor and Rieko Ioane comes back into the squad on the bench.
The least surprising of the changes sees Damian McKenzie starting at first five, with Ruben Love coming onto the bench as cover.
"We saw how competitive and determined the Wallabies were in Auckland last weekend, staying in the fight right to the end. We expect another tough contest this Saturday. We have picked a 23 to go toe-to-toe with a quality Australian team," said Robertson.
"It's all up for grabs in what has been the most even Rugby Championship we've ever seen; and we're here to cap off this competition with a performance we can be proud of."
