Liam Napier: NZ Herald sports writer on the All Blacks squad picks for Australian clash in Perth

A much-revamped All Blacks line-up will confront Australia in Saturday's second Bledisloe Cup test against Australia.

Injuries account for four of the seven changes to the run-on side.

Captain Scott Barrett returns at lock, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell start as props and Peter Lakai has his first test start, at number eight.

In the backs, Quinn Tupaea dons the 13 jersey and Leicester Fainga'anuku starts on the left wing - his first test since the 2023 World Cup.

NZ Herald ruby writer Liam Napier says the All Blacks are striving for consistency ahead of Saturday's match. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
All Blacks. I've made seven changes to the team that
will take on Australia and Perth on Saturday night. Captain
Scott Barrett is back from a shoulder injury to Mighty Williams,
Fletcher new Well, Damien McKenzie, Leicestifying and Nuku That are
all in as well Liam Naby as the Herald's rugby
correspondent in Perth and with.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Us now Hayleam evening Heather.

Speaker 1 (00:17):
Okay, what's the mood ahead of the Test.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
It's certainly interesting.

Speaker 3 (00:22):
Scott Robinson's sprung some selection surprises there, Quinta Pie in
at center hasn't played there for five years for the Chiefs,
and leicesterifying and Nook who playing his first game for
the All Blacks in two years after spending two years
in France.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
So look, the All Blacks is searching for consistency. They've
gone win loss, win, loss.

Speaker 3 (00:43):
Win, and to try and break that trend, Robinson's turn
to some freshness and some players that we haven't seen
too much of this year.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
Okay, are you worried about d mac.

Speaker 3 (00:56):
Not rarely No, he I think he's been waiting long
time for this chance. He started the first eight tests
of Scott Robinson's tenure last year. He's only had one
start at ten this year. But I think Perth should
suit him. It should be an open, expansive game. The
Wallabies give the All Blacks a lot more freedom to play,

(01:17):
so I think this game will suit him. But I
am worried about the Wallabies. I think they'll respond. They
get Will Skelton, Rob Valentini and some real big bodies
back in their forward pack, so I'm nervous about what
they could bring.

Speaker 1 (01:31):
What specifically makes you feel nervous.

Speaker 3 (01:35):
Well, the All Blacks form, for one, They've really struggled
to put back to back performances together this year. And
Joe Schmitt is an incredibly savvy coach. And I think
we saw last week that the Wallabies are a different team.
They've got a depth of character and resilience about them.
They didn't go away. They came back within two points

(01:56):
of the All Blacks at Eaton Park, at their fortress.
So coming home get some players back, I think they'll
bring a lot of confidence into this week.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yeah, Okay, now, Scott barrett Is back shoulder injury can't
have been that bad, can it?

Speaker 2 (02:09):
No? No, it wasn't it was only mine.

Speaker 3 (02:12):
I think he tried pushed pretty hard to play last
week but was ruled out on the Tuesday of the
eden Park Test. So he comes back and regains the captaincy.
So interesting to see how he comes back because Ardie
led the team really well at eden Park, very inspirational
turnover at one point. There's been a bit of discussion

(02:32):
around the All Blacks captaincy, so I think Scott will
be looking for a big performance. He tends to get
up for the Wallabies. A couple of years ago, Nick
White and him had a bit of a toe to
toe and he put his finger on his mouth and
told him to shush.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
So it could be a bit of a niggle this weekend.

Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yeah, now theres as you point out, there has been
a fair bit of chat about who should be the captain.
It has been a fair chat bit of chat about
whether Razor is the right guy to be the coach.
Are they hearing this stuff? Is this weighing on them?

Speaker 2 (02:58):
They certainly hear it. Yep, they'll tell you that they don't.

Speaker 3 (03:01):
They don't read the media, they don't hear the media,
they don't listen to people on the street. But they'll
be well aware of it, and they're aware of their
own frustrations, their own struggles, and they certainly demand more
of themselves. So they need a big performance this weekend
because the spring boxer and the box seat. To claim
the Rugby Championship title, the All Blacks need a bonus

(03:21):
point victory and they to score three more tries than
the Wallabies to have any hope of regaining that trophy.
So the All Blacks have everything to prove.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
Brilliant, Liam, look after yourself, Thanks very much man. That's
Liam Napier, Rugby correspondent. Of course, you can listen to
Elliot Smith and the commentary team right here on News
Talk zb It's nineteen away from seven.

Speaker 3 (03:41):
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
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