Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash between Australia and New Zealand, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park will host the penultimate match of the 2024 Rugby Championship between Australia and New Zealand on Saturday.
The Wallabies enter this contest bottom of the table with four points in as many games, while the All Blacks are just one spot above them with seven points.
Match preview
© Imago
Australia are set to enter the final two rounds of the 2024 Rugby Championship as the out-and-out favourites to receive a second consecutive Wooden Spoon, having lost three of their four games and failing to earn a single bonus point.
The Wallabies proved no match for the mighty Springboks in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate over rounds one and two, losing both games to the world champions 33-7 and 30-12 respectively.
A brief glimmer of hope followed as Joe Schmidt notched up his first Rugby Championship victory ever, pulling off a slender 20-19 win over Argentina in La Plata, but any momentum gained from that result was swiftly ended as the side slumped to a humiliating 40-point loss to Los Pumas in Santa Fe a week later.
Schmidt’s side conceded a record nine-try 67-27 hammering that day, plunging Australian rugby into further despair, and facing back-to-back Tests against the All Blacks is likely the last thing they needed.
Indeed, the Wallabies have not held the trans-Tasman rugby supremacy title – the Bledisloe Cup – since 2002, and based on their showing in this compeition, it seems unlikely that they will have much of a chance to reclaim it this year.
© Imago
Meanwhile, barring a complete capitulation from South Africa over the last two rounds, New Zealand look almost certain to hand over the Rugby Championship title this season, having already relinquished the Freedom Cup a couple of weeks ago.
The All Blacks’ trip to South Africa over weeks three and four delivered two matches for the ages, but ultimately ended in defeat for the defending Rugby Championship champions, as they squandered a 10-point lead at Ellis Park to lose 31-27 and came up short (18-12) a week later in Cape Town.
With 11 points now separating the Springboks and Scott Robertson‘s side, New Zealand’s hopes of retaining the Rugby Championship now rests on Argentina beating South Africa in both upcoming matches and denying the Boks any bonus points.
In fairness, that scenario looks highly improbable given the way the African nation have performed in this competition, but the All Blacks will still want to end the tournament on a positive note, and there are few better ways to do so than beating their old foes, Australia.
Australia Rugby Championship form:
Australia form (all competitions):
New Zealand Rugby Championship form:
New Zealand form (all competitions):
Team News
© Imago
James Slipper has been named on the bench for the Wallabies this weekend, and the veteran prop will become Australia’s most-capped player of all time with 140 caps if he features in this match.
In the backs, Hunter Paisami has recovered from the knee injury that sidelined him for the two Tests against Argentina, and he returns to the starting 15 alongside fellow centre Len Ikitau.
After an impressive run of form during the July internationals, Fraser McReight has been handed his first appearance in the 2024 Rugby Championship and he will replace Carlo Tizzano in the number seven jersey.
New Zealand received a timely double injury boost ahead of the opening Bledisloe Cup encounter, with Ethan de Groot and Caleb Clarke returning from injury and both are included in the squad.
The second row remains unchanged, with Scott Barrett captaining the side alongside Tupou Vaa’i, while Wallace Sititi keeps the number six jersey after his stellar performance on debut.
Beauden Barrett returns to the starting 15 at fullback after featuring off the bench in Cape Town, which sees Will Jordan move to the right wing and Sevu Reece drops to the bench.
Australia starting lineup: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Dylan Pietsch
New Zealand starting lineup: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Sevu Reece
We say: Australia 14-32 New Zealand
Australian rugby is not a good place right now and facing an All Blacks side that will be looking for a big performance after two disappointing weeks does not bode well for their chances of avoiding a second Wooden Spoon in a row.
The New Zealanders may not have been at their best in this year’s Rugby Championship, but we feel they will still be far too goal for the Wallabies in this one.
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