Wallabies name team to face New Zealand
- 2009
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made just the one forced change to his starting side ahead of Saturday night’s Bledisloe Cup decider with New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.
Adam Coleman comes into the second row for his first Test start of 2019 after a hand injury ruled out towering lock Rory Arnold. Coleman made his return from injury in last week’s clash at Optus Stadium.
The second row re-shuffle means Rob Simmons has been named amongst the reserves, alongside potential debutant Liam Wright.
The Queensland Reds backrower enjoyed a breakout year in Vodafone Super Rugby and is now in line to become Wallaby 928, should he take the field on Saturday night.
Wright will have plenty of experience alongside him on the bench, especially after the inclusion of utility Adam Ashley-Cooper who has been named for his first Test of the year.
An appearance at Eden Park would be Ashley-Cooper’s 118th Test, making him the 16th most capped player of all-time alongside New Zealand legend Tony Woodcock and France veteran Fabien Pelous.
Ashley-Cooper is amongst 474 caps of Test experience on the bench which almost matches the total caps of the starting 15 combined (531).
Saturday night's bench is the second most-capped reserve list the Wallabies have ever named for a Test match and the first time that Australia have boasted two Test centurions as replacements.
Australia haven’t won at Eden Park since 1986 while New Zealand are on a 42-match unbeaten streak at the venue, dating back to their three-point loss to France in 1994.
The Wallabies have lost their last 22 games across the ditch, with their last victory coming in 2001 in Dunedin.
