All Blacks Head Coach Dave Rennie has named his team to play Australia at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Saturday 17 October in the second Bledisloe Cup Test.

There are eight changes to the match-day 23 that played Australia at Eden Park last weekend, three of them in the starting side.

Prop George Bower moves from the bench to start at loosehead, and lock Fabian Holland [pictured] joins Scott Barrett in the second row. Wing Josh Moorby, who came off the bench at Eden Park, starts on the left wing.

Hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, prop Xavier Numia, loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi, halfback Cortez Ratima and midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai come into the 23 as reserves, alongside prop Pasilio Tosi, loose forward Shannon Frizell and outside back Rieko Ioane.

“Last week was a big week, with it being our first game back on New Zealand soil after a long tour away and the Bledisloe Cup on the line. We put in a performance befitting the occasion,” Rennie said. 

“Now we need to back that performance up.”

“The Wallabies are a proud side and they’ll be hurting after last week. It’s a great challenge for us to now face them in front of their home crowd in Sydney.”
 

All Blacks match-day 23:
(Test caps in brackets):

1.  George Bower (30)
2.  Codie Taylor (113) - Captain
3.  Fletcher Newell (42)
4.  Scott Barrett (90)
5.  Fabian Holland (15)
6.  Tupou Vaa’i (52)
7.  Peter Lakai (15)
8.  Wallace Sititi (24)
9.  Cam Roigard (25)
10. Damian McKenzie (82)
11. Josh Moorby (6)
12. Jordie Barrett (86)
13. Quinn Tupaea (30)
14. Will Jordan (62)
15. Beauden Barrett (146)
 

Replacements:
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (45)
17. Xavier Numia (5)
18. Pasilio Tosi (18)
19. Shannon Frizell (34)
20. Du’Plessis Kirifi (8)
21. Cortez Ratima (24)
22. Timoci Tavatavanawai (2)
23. Rieko Ioane (90)

Unavailable due to injury: Leroy Carter (ankle); Anton Segner (concussion); Asafo Aumua (concussion); Ethan Blackadder (calf); Richie Mo’unga (calf); Fehi Fineanganofo (hamstring).

MATCH FACTS

  • When the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park last weekend, it was the 54th time New Zealand has won the trophy and the 24th consecutive year it has held it. 
  • The All Blacks and Australia have met 182 times, with New Zealand winning 129, Australia 45 and eight drawn.
  • The sides last met at Accor Stadium on 21 September 2024, with the All Blacks winning 31-28.
  • Wing Will Jordan has scored 11 Test tries in 2026, the most by any player in international rugby this year and four short of his personal best of 15 in 2021.