All Blacks team named for Bledisloe Cup opener

All Blacks team named for Bledisloe Cup opener

The matchday 23 is (with Test caps in brackets. New All Blacks in bold):

1. Wyatt Crockett (48)
2. Nathan Harris (4)
3. Owen Franks (80)
4. Brodie Retallick (50)
5. Samuel Whitelock (75)
6. Jerome Kaino (69)
7. Sam Cane (34)
8. Kieran Read – captain (87)
9. Aaron Smith (50)
10. Beauden Barrett (39)
11. Waisake Naholo (6)
12. Ryan Crotty (18)
13. Malakai Fekitoa (15)
14. Ben Smith (51)
15. Israel Dagg (51)

16. Codie Taylor (5)
17. Kane Hames
18. Charlie Faumuina (36)
19. Liam Squire (1)
20. Ardie Savea (2)
21. TJ Perenara (19)
22. Aaron Cruden (39)
23. Julian Savea (43)

All Blacks v Australia – notable facts

• The All Blacks matchday 23 for the opening Investec Rugby Championship Test packs 822 caps worth of experience.

• The All Blacks and Australia have played each other 155 times, with 106 wins to the All Blacks and 42 to Australia, with seven draws.

• Jerome Kaino will play his 70th Test match on Saturday. He is the most capped blindside flanker of all time.

• The All Blacks head in to the opening Bledisloe Cup Test on the back of a three-nil Steinlager Series win over Wales in June.

• The All Blacks have held The Bledisloe Cup since 2003.

 Some surprises, that's for sure.
Coles is out so Harris is in; Barrett ahead of Cruden (who is on the bench but many in the past thought he was not flexible enough to be a bench player), Kane Hames a new commer; TJ is being rewarded for his great form; Savea has been given a chance to show he hasn't lost it completely. Good to see Liam Squire on the bench. Argument over Cane or Ardie will continue Overall it will be a good test for this team given the changes and also the questions surrounding the mid-field. Go All Blacks!!

 Coles finally out,..... which is not positive for the AB,...... but Harris and Taylor can perfectly do the job,..... 2 very good hookers

Barret's and Perenara's excellent form (which have been instrumental for the canes' title) have been recognized,...... and they are choosen over the chiefs' pair of halves,...... though some chiefs fans probably won't agree with it, I think it's the right choice

has to be hard for Cruden who hasn't done anything wrong,..... on the contrary, he never failed the AB and with him at 10 the winning record is impeccable,..... he has always played well,..... but Barret's form is really outstanding

IMO the best possible team at this moment except Sam Cane,..... I cannot understand how after June's tests' performance the coaching staff is still sticking with him,..... quite bad performance culminated with a yellow after 3 consecutive penalties (true it was a little bit harsh),..... while Savea showed the special player he's,......

Starting Cane ahead Savea is hard to understand.

 Yep Kiwis look pretty good - barret def better than cruden - bench looks stacked.
Only Dagg at FB  - Ben Smith is 3xs the FB - maybe a few backline shuffles coming.

 At least we have the NRL and olympics to distract attention from this game - this pain coming for aussies...
Go aussie Bball team - through to semis... yew!!

And the Camp bell sisters 

 Yeah... well swimming... always too much hype... athletes start believing it themselves...
btw that dutch girl who just come 2nd in the 200 (Schipper?) what a speciman...  
stayed up and wtached mens bball last nigth the aussies played real well...