Australia coach Les Kiss has named Declan Meredith as the starting midfielder and playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips as a reserve for Saturday’s second Bledisloe Cup test against New Zealand in Sydney.
Kiss suffered the first defeat of his reign as head coach in a 50-19 defeat at Auckland last week which saw the All Blacks retain their 24th Bledisloe Cup.
With first-choice midfielder Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson unavailable with leg injuries, Meredith runs in the No.10 shirt with McLaughlin-Phillips on the bench.
An injury to Len Ikitau and the continued suspension of Hunter Paisami forced the Kiss to return Joseph-Aukuso Suaaliini to the centers along with Isaac Henry.
Harry Potter starts on the left in place of Suaalii, with Filipo Daugu covering the backs and centers off the bench.
Former All Blacks loosehead prop Aidan Ross starts in the front row with Angus Bell returning to the substitutes. Josh Nasser came off the bench to start the whore, Billy Pollard backed him up and it fell to Brandon Paenga-Amos.
Forwards Josh Canham and Carlo Tizzano also arrived to bolster the bench after the Wallabies suffered a poor second half at Eden Park last week.
Kalani Thomas is set to win his third game as backup to Ryan Lonergan with Tate McDermott out of the game day lineup.
The Wallabies have lost their last 12 meetings with New Zealand.
“We got a clear picture last weekend that we need to be better,” Kiss said. “We’ve always said we’ll continue to work hard and improve our game and the squad has been impressive in the way they’ve prepared this week.”
New Zealand coach Dave Rennie made three changes to his starting line-up, including bringing on Fabian Holland for Josh Lord and replacing Ethan de Groot with George Bower.
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Rennie lost forwards Anton Segner and Asafo Aumua as well as winger Leroy Carter to injuries and concussion in last week’s 50-19 win, which secured their 24th straight Bledisloe Cup.
Josh Moorby comes off the bench to replace Carter on the left wing, but most of the injury-related changes are on the bench. Goalkeeper Samisoni Taukei’aho, prop Xavier Numia, loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi, midfielder Cortez Ratima and center Timoci Tavatavanawai come on as substitutes.
Richie Mo’unga is once again unavailable with a calf injury, so Damian McKenzie gets another run in the No.10 shirt after a fine performance at Eden Park last week. Beauden Barrett starts again at fullback. Striker Ethan Blackadder is also unavailable due to injury.
“The Wallabies are a proud side and they will be hurting after last week,” Rennie said. “Now it’s a big challenge for us to face them in front of the home crowd in Sydney.”
Australian team: 15-Tom Wright, 14-Max Jorgensen, 13- Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12-Isaac Henry, 11-Harry Potter, 10-Declan Meredith, 9-Ryan Lonergan, 8-Harry Wilson,-Rocap7,-Rocap6- Valetini, 5-Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4-Jeremy Williams, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Josh Nasser. 1-Aidan Ross. Substitutes: 16-Billy Pollard, 17-Angus Bell, 18-Massimo De Lutiis, 19-Josh Canham, 20-Carlo Tizzano, 21-Kalani Thomas, 22-Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23-Filipo Daugunu.
New Zealand team: 15-Beauden Barrett, 14-Will Jordan, 13-Quinn Tupaea, 12-Jordie Barrett, 11-Josh Moorby, 10-Damian McKenzie, 9-Cam Roigard, 8-Wallace Sititie, 7-Peter, Vaa’i, 5-Fabian Holland, 4-Scott Barrett, 3-Fletcher Newell, 2-Codie Taylor (captain). 1-George Bower. Substitutes: 16-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17-Xavier Numia, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Shannon Frizell, 20-Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23-Rieko Ioane.