After a humbling defeat to South Africa, New Zealand’s All Blacks are making a few strategic changes as they prepare to face Australia in the Rugby Championship this weekend.
The team is determined to bounce back and defend both their pride and the Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park in Auckland.
Ardie Savea Steps Up as Captain
Flanker Ardie Savea will lead the team in Scott Barrett’s absence.
Barrett, the regular captain, suffered a shoulder injury in the 43-10 loss to the Springboks and will miss Saturday’s match.
Savea, a former World Player of the Year, has previous captaincy experience, including two matches against France in June, making him a trusted figure to guide the squad through this high-stakes fixture.
Key Changes in the Squad
The All Blacks are keeping the rest of the lineup largely intact, with only four changes to the starting side.
Veteran hooker Codie Taylor returns from injury, while scrumhalf Cam Roigard and wing Caleb Clarke are back in the lineup after recovering from their own setbacks
. At lock, Fabian Holland replaces the injured Barrett, adding stability to the pack.
Clarke will make his first Test start of the year on the left wing, with Leroy Carter shifting to the right and Will Jordan taking up fullback duties.
Meanwhile, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Damian McKenzie drop to the bench, and Peter Lakai could make his first appearance of 2025 from the replacements’ bench.
Robertson Stresses Learning from Defeat
Coach Scott Robertson is resisting the urge to overhaul the team entirely, emphasizing that the players must respond to the South Africa loss by learning on the field rather than making drastic changes.
“Once you’ve been hurt and stung like we were, the best thing to do is play,” Robertson said.
“You learn on stage, and they’ve been under the spotlight. This is another chance for them to grow.”
Despite conceding four tries in the final quarter against the Springboks, Robertson downplayed the scale of the defeat, insisting that small margins decided the game and praising the team’s overall performance.
Preparing for a Strong Australian Challenge
The All Blacks know that Australia will be a formidable opponent.
Robertson highlighted the importance of the match, noting that both teams are in contention for the Rugby Championship title and “have everything to play for in these final two rounds.”
Match Details
-
Date: Saturday, 27 September 2025
-
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
-
Kick-off: 07:05 (SA time)
-
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
-
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
-
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Starting Lineups
New Zealand: Will Jordan, Leroy Carter, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard, Wallace Sititi, Ardie Savea (captain), Simon Parker, Tupou Vaa’i, Fabian Holland, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Cortez Ratima, Quinn Tupaea, Damian McKenzie
Australia: Max Jorgensen, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Corey Toole, James O’Connor, Tate McDermott, Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, James Slipper
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Allan Alaalatoa, Jeremy Williams, Carlo Tizzano, Ryan Lonergan, Tane Edmed, Filipo Daugunu