Damian McKenzie starts at flyhalf for All Blacks' Rugby Championship swansong

By SABC Sport
2nd October 2025

The All Blacks have made six changes to the team that started the first Bledisloe Cup match last weekend for their final 2025 Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies.

Several of the changes are injury-forced, with Beauden Barrett and Ethan de Groot remaining in New Zealand, while Tyrel Lomax (thumb injury) and Caleb Clarke (ankle) will not play this Test. Lomax suffered a broken thumb in the first Bledisloe Cup match at Eden Park and after a scan yesterday, will return home to New Zealand this evening.

In the forwards, Captain Scott Barrett returns to the side in the number four jersey, partnering Tupou Vaa'i in the second row. Peter Lakai is set for his first Test start, at No.8, after four previous appearances off the bench with Wallace Sititi moving into an impact role, while Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell come into the front row

In the backs, Damian McKenzie starts at flyhalf, Leicester Fainga'anuku will play his first Test since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and will start on the left wing, and Quinn Tupaea starts in the No.13 jersey for the first time. Will Jordan will make his 50th Test appearance in the All Blacks jersey as he runs out on Saturday.

In addition to the changes to the starting XV, there are six changes on the bench.

All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson said the team was looking forward to building on the performance at Eden Park, as the Rugby Championship goes down to the wire.

"We saw how competitive and determined the Wallabies were in Auckland last weekend, staying in the fight right to the end," said Robertson.

"We expect another tough contest this Saturday. We have picked a 23 to go toe-to-toe with a quality Australian team.

"It's all up for grabs in what has been the most even Rugby Championship we've ever seen; and we're here to cap off this competition with a performance we can be proud of."

All Blacks - 15 Will Jordan, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett (vc), 11 Leicester Fainga'anuku, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa'i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.

Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 George Bower, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Ruben Love.