Stats and Facts: New Zealand v Australia
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The All Blacks and Wallabies meet for the second week in a row as the pair face off at Eden Park on Sunday.
After a thrilling 16 apiece draw in Wellington, the clash at Eden Park is definitely not one to miss.
Both coaches have made a number of changes to their sides for the clash with Ian Foster handing another debut out to the impressive Blues' loosehead Alex Hodgman who features on the bench. Meanwhile, two other new All Blacks, lock Tupou Vaa'i and winger Caleb Clarke, are making their first Test start in their second Tests.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has made four changes to the side that drew to New Zealand with hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and blindside flanker Ned Hanigan come straight into the starting side, with Queensland Reds duo Liam Wright and Jordan Petaia brought in as replacements.
We take a look at some of the stats and facts ahead of the clash
• Referee Angus Gardner will be the first Australian to referee Australia in a test match since Barry Leask referred the Wallabies’ 52-14 defeat of Tonga at Ballymore on 4 July, 1993
• This is the second of four Bledisloe Cup matches to take place in 2020
• 2010 was the last time there were four Bledisloe Cup matches in a calendar year
• This will be the 50th Bledisloe Cup series since the cup was inaugurated in 1931
• New Zealand have held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003
• Last weekend’s draw was the first between the sides on New Zealand soil since a 9-9 stalemate in Wellington in August 1962
• Australia climbed two places to fifth in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings after the draw, while New Zealand remains second
• Australia have not beaten New Zealand at Eden Park since 6 September, 1986 when they triumphed 22-9 with David Campese among the try-scorers
• The Wallabies have not beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand since 11 August, 2001 (23-15 at Carisbrook) – a run of 23 defeats and one draw
• The All Blacks have an 87 per cent win percentage at Eden Park, having lost only 10 of 87 tests played there since 1921
• Their unbeaten streak at the ground stretches back to a 23-20 loss to France in 1994 – in that time they have beaten 42 opponents and drawn twice, against South Africa and the British and Irish Lions
• The next best unbeaten run is 22 matches set by England from 1999-2003 at Twickenham
• James O’Connor needs 16 points to move above Joe Roff and into eighth place on the Wallabies’ all-time point-scoring list
• Both Sam Whitelock and Aaron Smith played under Dave Rennie during the 2008 U20 World Championship.
Another incredible stat from Michael Hooper 🙌 pic.twitter.com/DDfBUGEYiA
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) October 12, 2020
• Ned Hanigan last played for Australia against England on 24 November, 2018
• Auckland-born prop Alex Hodgman is in line for his test debut off the bench and would become the 53rd World Rugby U20 Championship graduate capped by the All Blacks
• Twenty-four players across the starting line-ups are World Rugby U20 Championship or Trophy graduates with 11 also named on the bench and the uncapped Hodgman
• The All Blacks and Australia will be playing their 168th Test against each other. New Zealand has won 115 of those matches, Australia 44 with eight draws.
