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Angus Fontaine reflects on the last time the Wallabies got one over the All Blacks at Eden Park.
If “it’s the hope that kills you” then Wallabies fans have been dying a slow death for 39 years at Eden Park, the venue for this Saturday’s first Test of the Bledisloe Cup.
The Auckland venue is the All Blacks’ fortress. They have not lost there since 1994 and are unbeaten across 51 Tests (49 wins, two draws). No Australian team has won at Eden Park since the 1986 side led by Andrew Slack and coached by Alan Jones.
If you were worried about Australia’s chances today, or any day, just turn on Australian TV. The seventh ranked team in the world, that have lost 11 of their past 18 Tests, apparently have a “world class” 15 that anybody in the country could name in the pub ... despite today’s line-up featuring a new second row, third-choice fullback, and umpteenth halves pairing…
The All Blacks, by contrast, and “hardworking” and “under pressure”.
Does the relentless uncritical cheerleading actually serve a useful purpose?
Australia XV
Changes aplenty for Joe Schmidt as Australia’s preparations have been hit by injuries. There’s a new lock pairing, the bullocking Rob Valentini is missing, there’s yet another fresh partnership in the halves, and the second-choice fullback is crocked. Add to that the continued absence of the totemic Will Skelton and you have a Wallabies line-up some way below full potential.
Fifteen years after his 2010 debut against England, 36-year-old loosehead prop James Slipper becomes the third player to reach the 150-cap milestone following locks Alun Wyn Jones of Wales and New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock.
1 James Slipper, 2 Billy Pollard, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6 Tom Hooper, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 9 Tate McDermott, 10 James O’Connor, 11 Corey Toole, 12 Len Ikitau, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Harry Potteer, 15 Max Jorgensen.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Filipo Daugunu.
New Zealand XV
The All Blacks have brought in five new faces to their 23. Cam Roigard and Cortez Ratima return from injury to share halfback duties, Caleb Clarke will start on the left wing for his first game of the season. Lock Patrick Tuipulotu returns on the bench alongside loose forward Peter Lakai.
The imposing Scott Barrett misses out with a shoulder injury but he is expected to be passed fit for the return match in Perth.
1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Fabian Holland, 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Leroy Carter, 15. Will Jordan.
Replacements: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Peter Lakai, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Damian McKenzie.
Angus Fontaine sets the scene from an Australian perspective.
To beat New Zealand at home, all the stars must align. You’ve got to pick a smart side, play the right style, win over the referee and catch a little luck along the way. Silencing the crowd early, with fast points or fierce attack and defence, helps too. Even then, there are no guarantees against the All Blacks. And they are never more dangerous than when wounded, as Scott Robertson’s side certainly is after their worst ever Test defeat last week, a 43-10 spifflication by South Africa in Wellington.
Yet instead of smelling blood and making plans to dismantle an enemy in disarray, the Wallabies inexplicably sent two of their most important players on magical mystery tours to the far side of the planet. James O’Connor and Will Skelton were allowed to return to their clubs Leicester and La Rochelle despite being crucial to Australia’s chances of ending a 23-year Bledisloe Cup drought and snapping New Zealand’s 31-year-long, 51-Test unbeaten streak at their “fortress” of Eden Park.
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of New Zealand v Australia in round five of the 2025 Rugby Championship. Kick-off at Eden Park in Auckland is scheduled for 5.05pm NZST (3.05pm AEST).
As the battle for the Bledisloe Cup recommences the Rugby Championship is at the most interesting juncture in its short history. After four rounds all four competing nations have two wins and two losses, and all have celebrated victories overseas.
The Wallabies secured theirs at Ellis Park in round one, since when they have suffered two defeats and conjured a Houdini-like escape in the 86th minute at home to Argentina. Yet their remains a feelgood factor around Australian rugby in the wake of a promising Lions series, the emergence of a clutch of youthful world class talents, and the beginning of a narrative pointing towards the 2027 World Cup on home soil.
The same cannot be said about the All Blacks. They suffered a humiliating defeat to the Springboks a fortnight ago in Wellington and are now closer on World Rugby’s rankings to England in fifth place, than they are to South Africa in top spot.
With New Zealand’s pride stung, the Wallabies could be heading to Eden Park at the worst possible moment. Not that there’s ever a good moment to venture to one of the most secure fortresses in world sport. The All Blacks are unbeaten at the venue in the past 51 tests over 31 years and the Wallabies haven’t tasted victory there since 1986.
I’ll be back with the line-ups shortly. If you want to get in touch this afternoon, the address is [email protected].
