New Zealand v Australia
Wounded All Blacks to fire at Auckland fortress
Sam Bruce
August 14, 2015
Preview: New Zealand v Australia

It's taken seven years, but we're finally set for the biggest event in trans-Tasman sporting contests - a deciding Bledisloe Cup Test. Unfortunately, for Wallabies fans at least, it takes place at Eden Park in Auckland - a venue where the All Blacks haven't been beaten in 21 years and Australia's drought extends eight years longer.

It doesn't make great reading for anyone sporting green and gold, the feeling of nausea only likely intensified by Michael Cheika's selection of Quade Cooper. The Wallabies boss has pulled one of the great selection shocks in recent memory in recalling the enigmatic playmaker to the scene of arguably his worst Test performance - the 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-final. It appears to be a confusing selection but Cheika's buzz word of the past few weeks has been "self-belief" and what a story it would be if Cooper is able to conquer his Eden Park demons.

Team News

  • New Zealand: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has made three changes to the side beaten in Sydney with Sam Whitelock and Victor Vito joining the pack, and Ma'a Nonu returning at second five-eighth. Nonu takes over from the injured Sonny Bill Williams while Jerome Kaino and Luke Romano have made way for Vito and Whitelock, respectively.
  • Australia: Just when you thought Michael Cheika was close to settling on his favoured starting side he goes and makes six changes. The biggest of those sees Quade Cooper return at No.10 while he is joined in the backline by Nic White (scrum-half), Matt Toomua (inside centre) and Henry Speight (wing). Up front, Will Skelton has been recalled at lock while Wycliff Palu makes his first Test start of 2015 at No.8.

The All Blacks, meanwhile, left Sydney a little rattled after being outplayed in just about every facet of last week's opening Bledisloe defeat. Coach Steve Hansen hasn't panicked and has put faith in veteran fly-half Dan Carter in what is his - as well as skipper Richie McCaw and centre Ma'a Nonu's - final Test on New Zealand soil. The storylines are tantalising as the Rugby World Cup lingers in the background. A memorable 80 minutes awaits - no matter which way the result goes.

In form

Julian Savea requires some tackling; so it was probably little surprise referee Wayne Barnes called the Television Match Official into action to inspect Michael Hooper's thunderous hit on the stroke of half-time last week. Savea probably hasn't been hit that hard since the Under 6s. The Wallabies vice-captain was man-of-the-match in Sydney, combining superbly with David Pocock in a two-pronged openside attack. He won't have the Brumbies back-rower alongside him this week, however, with Cheika opting to start veteran Wycliff Palu at No.8. It will require Hooper to perhaps play a little tighter; another busy, bone-jarring, performance cannot be ruled out.

No pre-match tricks up Cheika's sleeve
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When the curtain comes down on Nehe Milner-Skudder's career many years from now, he'll likely look back on his Test debut with mixed emotions. Two tries on your Test bow is the stuff of dreams, providing the result comes with it; that was the only downer on an otherwise sparkling first start in the black jersey for Milner-Skudder, the 24-year-old winger picking up where he left off in a superb rookie Super Rugby season. Milner-Skudder had little to do for his first try last week but the way in which he finished for No.2 suggests he'll be a regular starter at the World Cup.

Out of form

Not even the most ardent of Quade Cooper supporters could have seen this recall coming, yet here he is again in the Wallabies No.10 jersey. The polarising playmaker has barely been heard from, or sighted, since a late-night Twitter outburst in Argentina, but now has the chance to secure his World Cup ticket and prove to the country of his birth that he is more than just a talented showman who loves the off-field headlines. Cooper was largely ineffective in his only start during the Rugby Championship against South Africa yet it may be he just needs someone to believe in him and, in Cheika, he has just that.

Ruck'n Maul: Wallabies inspiring national belief
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The knives have been out for Dan Carter in New Zealand this week with many believing Hansen should have afforded Lima Sopoaga more time in the No.10 jersey, and at least given Beauden Barrett a chance to start. The All Blacks coach has shown faith in the 105-Test veteran despite his poor showing in Sydney where he missed touch and tackles, and failed with two short kick-offs. The Wallabies' rush defence also proved successful, cutting down the space on offer and forcing Carter to the boot a little more than he would have liked. He will be boosted by the return of second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu, though, and it's unlikely scrum-half Aaron Smith will perform as poorly inside him as he did last week.

Key battle

The back-row. Having claimed to have adjusted for the combination of Pocock and Hooper last week, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen admitted after the loss in Sydney he might have to "adjust again". So what does that mean for the All Blacks now that Cheika has put that combination on ice? Whatever the case, New Zealand need a far greater contribution from their back-row at the breakdown to the one they received last week. Kieran Read and the recalled Victor Vito must offer greater support to Richie McCaw; if the Wallabies generate the same clean ball they secured in Sydney, we very well may see the rarest of sighting at Test level - the best of Quade Cooper.

Richie McCaw received little assistance in the All Blacks back-row in Sydney © Getty Images
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Key stats

  • The Wallabies are aiming to lift the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002 when they claimed the Cup for the fifth time in a row.
  • New Zealand has won their past 15 Tests against Australia at Eden Park, conjuring their biggest ever points total in a Trans-Tasman Test in their clash in Auckland in 2014 (51-20).
  • New Zealand were last defeated at Eden Park in July 1994. They drew their next game at the venue in August 1994 and have since won 33 in a row in Auckland.

Odds

New Zealand are $1.23 and Australia $4.25

Tip

You've got to admire the daring of Michael Cheika in his selection of Quade Cooper but it also appears to be completely foolhardy. Bernard Foley was far from perfect in Sydney last week but he was largely free of the brain explosions and simple errors for which Cooper is remembered \at Test level. His selection, combined with the desperation of an All Blacks side stung by a resounding defeat will see the world champions bounce back. There's also the small matter of Eden Park, too. All Blacks by five.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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