Teams named for Bledisloe clash

Australia and New Zealand have named their teams to contest the deciding game of the 2007 Tri Nations \ Bledisloe Cup on Saturday in Auckland.

The Teams

New Zealand – Australia

Tony Woodcock – 01 – Matt Dunning
Anton Oliver – 02 – Stephen Moore
Carl Hayman – 03 – Guy Shepherdson
Keith Robinson -04 – Nathan Sharpe
Chris Jack – 05 – Dan Vickerman
Jerry Collins – 06 – Rocky Elsom
Richie McCaw (c) – 07 – George Smith
Rodney So’oialo – 08 – Stephen Hoiles
Byron Kelleher – 09 – George Gregan
Daniel Carter – 10 – Stephen Larkham
Joe Rokocoko – 11 – Mark Gerrard
Luke McAlister – 12 – Matt Giteau
Isaia Toeava – 13 – Stirling Mortlock (c)
Doug Howlett – 14 – Drew Mitchell
Mils Muliaina – 15 – Adam Ashley-Cooper

Replacements

Keven Mealamu – 16 – Adam Freier
Neemia Tialata – 17 – Al Baxter
Reuben Thorne -  18 – Hugh McMeniman
Chris Masoe -  19 – Mark Chisholm
Brendon Leonard -  20 – Phil Waugh
Aaron Mauger  – 21 – Scott Staniforth
Nick Evans – 22 – Chris Latham

Match details

Competition: Tri Nations & Bledisloe Cup
Date: Saturday 21 July 2007
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:35 NZ (07:35 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

New Zealand

– Byron Kelleher returns at scrum-half, replacing Piri Weepu
– Jerry Collins starts at flank ahead of Reuben Thorne
– Anton Oliver replaces Keven Mealamu at hooker
– Luke McAlister starts at centre ahead of Aaron Mauger – Graham Henry: “Luke is playing better than Aaron at the moment.”
– Brendon Leonard keeps his place on the bench –”He’s a good player to having come off the bench. He put his hand up last weekend,” said Henry
– Of the 30-man squad, only wing Sitiveni Sivivatu was not considered for selection due to injury (calf strain)

“Our performance improved last week and we are after more improvement this week, and we are close to playing the type of rugby we want to play. The Bledisloe Cup and the Philips Tri Nations are hugely important to New Zealand and we would like to claim those honours again,” said All Blacks coach Graham Henry.

Australia

– Adam Ashley-Cooper replaces the injured Julian Huxley at fullback.
– Drew Mitchell starts on the wing.
– Chris Latham is named on the bench.
– Stephen Moore returns at hooker, with Adam Freier benched
– Eighthman David Lyons relegates Stephen Hoiles to the bench
– George Smith once again starts at flank ahead of Phil Waugh

“Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations deciders are right up there alongside World Cup finals. Opportunities to play in Tests like this don’t come around too often and Saturday night will be a very special occasion. For a number of our players it will be the biggest match of their career,” said Wallaby coach Connolly.

World Cup dress rehearsal

The All Blacks and Wallaby players and coaches believe that this Saturday’s Tri Nations \ Bledisloe Cup decider is the ideal dress rehearsal for the upcoming World Cup in France.

“It is perfect. You couldn’t ask for a better dress rehearsal. Everything is on the line. We have great opposition, we lost to them last time we played,” said All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen.

Wallaby flanker Phil Waugh said, “The challenges of going to Eden Park and facing the All Blacks in a Bledisloe Cup decider — games don’t come much bigger — so it is going to be big challenge and a good experience for the guys.

“It is a big clash and there is a lot at stake. Everyone is looking forward to it. We got a lot of confidence out of the game last year so we are fairly confident going over there.”