All Blacks power up for Bledisloe Cup opener

The All Blacks person opted for size and powerfulness successful naming their squad for Thursday's Bledisloe Cup opener against the Wallabies successful Melbourne.

The unavailability of Ardie Savea (impending childbirth) and Shannon Frizell (ribs) forced New Zealand to marque 2 changes to their backrow.

Imposing Blues No.8 Hoskins Sotutu volition marque his archetypal Test quality of the twelvemonth successful spot of Savea portion the selectors person opted to power Scott Barrett from fastener to blindside flanker.

Watch each lucifer of the Rugby Championship connected the location of rugby, Stan Sport. Continues September 15 with the Bledisloe Cup opener. All matches streaming ad-free, unrecorded and connected demand

Scott Barrett of the All Blacks makes a interruption with Brodie Retallick successful support. (Getty)

That opens up a slot successful the 2nd enactment for Brodie Retallick, who made his instrumentality from a fractured cheekbone disconnected the seat successful the 53-3 thrashing of Argentina.

Loose guardant Akira Ioane has earned a spot connected the seat portion the starting backline remains unchanged.

"We can't hold to footwear disconnected what should beryllium a fantastic Rugby Championship Test, which doubles arsenic the opening Bledisloe Cup clash of the year," All Blacks manager Ian Foster said.

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Dave Rennie of the Wallabies and Ian Foster of the All Blacks astatine Sky Stadium successful Wellington. (Getty)

"We are incredibly driven to support clasp of this trophy which means truthful overmuch to some countries.

"And erstwhile you origin successful however choky this year's Rugby Championship is, each signs constituent towards different large Test lucifer present successful Melbourne."

ALL BLACKS (15-1): Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith, Hoskins Sotutu, Sam Cane (c), Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ethan de Groot

Reserves: Dane Coles, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali'i, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Quinn Tupaea

NEW PODCAST! Sean Maloney, Andrew Mehrtens and Morgan Turinui chat Rugby Championship, Shute Shield and invited 2 peculiar guests who person cycled astir the satellite up of the women's Rugby World Cup successful New Zealand

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