NEW ZEALAND v AUSTRALIA: Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Championship

17.08.2013

Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Preview
The big Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship kicks off with test matches in Australia and South Africa. Old Tasman rivals New Zealand and Australia clash in a match which also sees the iconic Bledisloe Cup on the line.

Australia enters this test match with a new coach and a number of new players. Since taking over from Robbie Deans Ewen Mckenzie has ringed the changes, introducing seven new players to the day’s 22 and recalling controversial player Quade Cooper into the fold.

New Zealand has recalled Richie McCaw after a 6 month sabbatical and reinstated him as captain. They will be missing Daniel Carter and Liam Massom both out with injury.

Last Five Encounters
20.10.2012 Drawn 18-18 in Brisbane (Bledisloe Cup)
25.08.2012 New Zealand 22-0 in Auckland (Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Champ.)
18.08.2012 New Zealand 27-19 in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Champ.)
16.10.2011 New Zealand 20-6 in Auckland (World Cup, Semi-final)
27.08.2011 Australia 25-20 in Brisbane (Bledisloe Cup, Tri-Nations)

New Zealand Last Five
22.06.2013 v France W 24-9 in New Plymouth
15.06.2013 v France W 30-0 in Christchurch
08.06.2013 v France W 23-13 in Auckland
01.12.2012 v England L 21-38 at Twickenham
24.11.2012 v Wales W 33-10 in Cardiff

Australia Last Five
06.07.2013 v British and Irish Lions L 16-41 in Sydney
29.06.2013 v British and Irish Lions W 16-15 in Melbourne
22.06.2013 v British and Irish Lions L 21-23 in Brisbane
01.12.2012 v Wales W 14-12 in Cardiff
24.11.2012 v Italy W 22-19 in Florence

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: New Zealand 4th, Australia 11th
Oceania Table: New Zealand 1st, Australia 2nd

IRB Ranking Points
New Zealand 90.08, Australia 86.87

Prediction: New Zealand by 12 points.

Milestones
If New Zealand win it will be their 100th test rugby win over Australia.

TEAMS

Australia

15		Jesse Mogg	ACT Brumbies
14		Israel Folau	NSW Waratahs
13		Adam Ashley-Cooper	NSW Waratahs
12		Christian Leali’ifano	ACT Brumbies
11		James O’Connor	Melbourne Rebels
10		Matthew Toomua *	ACT Brumbies
9		William Genia	Queensland Reds
8		Benjamin Mowen	ACT Brumbies
7		Michael Hooper	NSW Waratahs
6		Hugh McMeniman	WA Western Force
5		James Horwell (Capt.)	Queensland Reds
4		Robert Simmons	Queensland Reds
3		Benjamin Alexander	ACT Brumbies
2		Stephan Moore	ACT Brumbies
1		James Slipper	Queensland Reds
16		Saia Fainga’a	Queensland Reds
17		Scott Sio *	ACT Brumbies
18		Sekope Kepu	NSW Waratahs
19		Scott Fardy *	ACT Brumbies
20		Liam Gill	Queensland Reds
21		Nicholas White *	ACT Brumbies
22		Quade Cooper	Queensland Reds
23		Tevita Kuridrani *	ACT Brumbies
		HEAD COACH: Ewan McKenzie

* New test cap
http://www.allblacks.com/news/23002/Wallabies-team-to-play-All-Blacks

New Zealand

15		Israel Dagg	Hawkes Bay
14		Benjamin Smith	Otago
13		Conrad Smith	Wellington
12		Ma'a Nonu	Auckland
11		Julian Savea	Wellington
10		Aaron Cruden	Manawatu
9		Aaron Smith	Manawatu
8		Kieran Read	Canterbury
7		Richie McCaw (Capt.)	Canterbury
6		Steven Luatua	Auckland
5		Samuel Whitelock	Canterbury
4		Luke Romano	Canterbury
3		Owen Franks	Canterbury
2		Andrew Hore	Taranaki
1		Tony Woodcock	North Harbour
16		Keven Mealamu	Auckland
17		Benjamin Franks	Hawkes Bay
18		Charlie Faumuina	Auckland
19		Brodie Retallick	Bay of Plenty
20		Samuel Cane	Bay of Plenty
21		Tawera Kerr-Barlow	Waikato
22		Beauden Barrett	Taranaki
23		Ryan Crotty *	Canterbury
		HEAD COACH: Steven Hansen

* New test cap
http://www.allblacks.com/news/23008/REVISED-TEAM-All-Blacks-side-to-face-Wallabies