Damian McKenzie will start at fly-half and Beauden Barrett will line up at fullback for the All Blacks against the Wallabies at Eden Park on Saturday after Richie Mo’unga tore his calf muscle in training.
Richie Mo’unga Injured Before Bledisloe Opener
Dave Rennie described his latest matchday selection as the hardest side we’ve had to pick
after a rapid succession of injuries dismantled the coaching staff’s initial plans for the Bledisloe Cup opener. Mo’unga sustained a calf injury during training on Tuesday, with scans confirming a tear that rules him out of both the Auckland Test and next week’s return match in Sydney.
The setback follows the loss of Ruben Love for the remainder of the year due to an ankle injury. Rennie opted against starting uncapped youngster Josh Jacomb, choosing instead to move Damian McKenzie closer to the action at first-five.
Rennie explained that it took three selection meetings with his coaching staff to finalise the 23-man squad. The All Blacks boss stated that the Bledisloe Cup carries tremendous weight, noting that every match against the Wallabies features profound history and pride.
Dave Rennie’s best-laid plans for the first Bledisloe cup test against Australia on Saturday have had to be quickly torn up following Richie Mo’unga’s injury, with Damian McKenzie moved from fullback to No.10 and Beauden Barrett given a rare start.
RNZ
Chay Fihaki joins the squad as an injury replacement, while Leroy Carter gets the nod on the left wing alongside Will Jordan on the right and Quinn Tupaea and Jordie Barrett in the midfield.
Scott Barrett and Shannon Frizell Return to the Matchday Squad
Up front, the All Blacks welcome back former captain Scott Barrett, who returns to the starting line-up for the first time since November 2025. His comeback was delayed earlier in the year by a non-playing sabbatical followed by back surgery.
Scott Barrett starts in the engine room alongside Josh Lord, meaning Tupou Vaa’i shifts to blindside flanker. Peter Lakai takes the openside position, and Wallace Sititi starts at number eight in the absence of the injured Ardie Savea. Hooker Codie Taylor takes on the team captaincy, backed in the front row by props Ethan de Groot and Fletcher Newell.
On the reserves bench, Shannon Frizell returns for his first Test appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final defeat to South Africa in Paris. Forward cover on the bench also includes hooker Asafo Aumua, props George Bower and Pasilio Tosi, and loose forward Anton Segner. The backline reserves feature halfback Kyle Preston alongside outside backs Rieko Ioane and Josh Moorby.
All Blacks Defend Unbeaten Run at Eden Park
The hosts protect an unbeaten streak stretching back to 1994, encompassing 53 Tests without a loss at the venue. Australia’s most recent victory in Auckland occurred back in 1986.
Rennie acknowledged that confronting this record openly was essential to prevent players from overthinking it on game day, explaining that the squad has talked about the milestone and used it as fuel.
“The Bledisloe Cup means a huge amount to this group,” Rennie said in a statement.
Dave Rennie, All Blacks Head Coach
The matchday 23 features Codie Taylor leading the side alongside Ethan de Groot, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi, Cam Roigard, Damian McKenzie, Leroy Carter, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Will Jordan, and Beauden Barrett.
Kick-off is set for Saturday at Eden Park.
