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Beauden Barrett (Getty Images)
the All the black people He suffered a serious injury blow on Saturday on the eve of the premiere Bledisloe cup test against Australia, with fullback Beauden Barrett forced to retire with an Achilles tendon injury.
The two-time world player of the year has been replaced by Damian McKenzie, who was not in the original team on game day and who played the last of his 23 tests two years ago.
Barrett’s injury broke out during training on Friday.
Although it was resolved overnight and he was involved in the early part of the All Blacks last practice on Saturday, the team decided not to risk playing him.
“He probably could have played on a shove, but we have every confidence that Damian will step up,” said new All Blacks captain Sam Cane.
Cane rose to fame at age 20 in 2012, when he made his debut in both Super Rugby and the All Blacks under now-Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie on the Waikato Chiefs.
They developed a relationship that has given Cane a good idea of what to expect from the Wallabies.
“If I know Dave Rennie, he will pierce his side to work hard, fight for every inch. (They will be) very physical, but they will also like to use the ball so there are no moments where we can switch out,” he said.
The Wallabies were to fly to Wellington, the site of the Test, on Saturday night after finishing their 14 days of quarantined training in Christchurch.
Captain Michael Hooper, who will be playing his 100th Test, said it was a type of build-up he had never experienced before.
“Apart from Covid, it would have felt different. Everything has changed, everything has changed. There is a new coaching staff, a lot of new players and a lot of enthusiasm.”
The expected crowd of nearly 30,000 at Wellington Stadium was “25,000 more than we were used to thanks to Covid,” he added.
The Sunday’s Test will be the first international rugby union since the coronavirus pandemic stopped the Six Nations in March. Neither New Zealand nor Australia have played since last October at the World Cup in Japan.
START XV (15-1)
New Zealand: Damian McKenzie; Jordie Barrett, Rieko John, Jack Goodhue, George Bridge; Richie Mounga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell; Sam Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu; Ofa Tu’unglasses, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody
Bookings: Dane Coles, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Tupou Vaai, Hoskins Sotutu, TJ Perenara, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke
Australia: Tom Banks; Filipo Daugunu, Hunter Paisami, Matt Toomua, Marika Korobiete; James O’Connor, Nic White; Pete Samu, Michael Hooper (captain), Harry Wilson; Matt Philip, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto; Taniela Tupou, Sailor Sailor, James Slipper
Bookings: Jordan Uelese, Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Simmons, Rob Valetini, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Reece Hodge
Referee: Paul Williams (NZL)
