Rugby Bledisloe Cup: All Blacks watch Wallaby Reece Hodge in final match

The All Blacks have targeted a Wallaby for Bledisloe four.

Preparing to play the final Bledisloe Cup match against Australia in Brisbane tomorrow, head coach Ian Foster suggested they will target playmaker Reece Hodge.

It comes a week after the Wallabies sent a warning to All Blacks rookie sensation Caleb Clarke following his stellar debut at Eden Park.

Wallabies youth Filipo Daugunu was one of those who said he “couldn’t wait to hit him” before the tactic fell through and Daugunu was sent off the field with a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Clarke in Sydney.

In just his second outing in the fifth-eighth in 42 tests, Hodge’s only other outing at No. 10 was in 2017 against Japan in Yokohama, where the 26-year-old successfully made all nine attempts to help secure the victory of the Wallaby.

Foster said he believes Hodge’s selection was strategic and designed to improve his kicking game.

“He (Hodge) has shown skills in the past at 10, but it’s going to be something else to go into a big test like this and it’s something we’re going to ask him some questions about,” Foster said.

“They got a bit of criticism for his kicking game last week so he won’t be lacking in that skill set – he has a great kick on him.

“When you look at the 10, 12, 13 combination, they’re really trying to shore up that space defensively.”

The Wallabies have suffered a couple of hits to the side, including from veteran Matt Toomua and James O’Connor, who will miss tomorrow night’s game.

Foster believes Hodge will be used to fill the void.

“They may have lost their decision maker in Toomua, so they probably went for a much more direct run and a lot more power play in midfield,” he said.

“Hodge is more of an old boss and they will use his experience to guide the team.”

Meanwhile, four new players will debut at the All Blacks event in Brisbane.

In a highly anticipated test debut, forward Akira Ioane, who first donned the black jersey in a non-test on the 2017 All Blacks Northern Hemisphere tour, will start at No. 6.

Hooker Asafo Aumua, who also played two non-tests on the same tour, will also debut off the bench alongside two 2020 All Blacks, 20-year-old forward Cullen Grace and 22-year-old defender Will. Jordan.

Samuel Whitelock will make his 100th test outing for New Zealand in his 120th test, becoming the fifth player to score a century of test starts for the All Blacks.