Wallabies v All Blacks
Kick-off: 5.45pm Saturday 21 September (NZT)
Accor Stadium, Sydney
Live updates on RNZ Sport
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has revealed he spent a bit of time on the waves with rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns this week in Sydney.
Robertson, a keen surfer, said he and Johns were linked up by a mutual friend and the experience at Bronte Beach "was a great morning".
"He enjoys his rugby, he knows his footy - I was really impressed with him.
"He knows his surf breaks, it was more surf chat when we were out on the water. But he was good... he loves a stand-off, or a 10. He knows the details of them, he's still in love with Carlos Spencer. He was asking, 'When are you getting Richie (Mo'unga) back?'… so it was entertaining."
Johns had a storied career from 1993-2007 with the Newcastle Knights, playing 249 games. He also played 26 tests for the Kangaroos and 23 State of Origin Matches for New South Wales.
Meanwhile, Robertson has reverted back to some experienced starters and a first-choice back three for this weekend's opening Bledisloe Cup test.
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Caleb Clarke comes back into the starting side after missing the 18-12 defeat to the Springboks in Cape Town due to injury, while Will Jordan moves to the wing to accommodate Beauden Barrett starting at fullback.
"When Caleb came back the best balance for us was to put Beauden at fullback and Will on the wing," said Robertson.
"They've had a great combination there, all three of them have. He's played great test footy on the wing. And just because he's starting on the wing, it doesn't mean he can't finish at fullback."
Robertson also pointed out that centre Rieko Ioane had finished the last three tests on the wing. The Cape Town loss saw Sevu Reece and Mark Tele'a start there, but both gave disappointing displays. Reece drops back to the bench, while Tele'a is cut from the squad altogether.
The coach confirmed Ethan Blackadder had still not recovered from a hamstring complaint, which hands another start to the very impressive Wallace Sititi. Pasilio Tosi will play only his second test when he comes off the bench, while Cortez Ratima gets the nod over TJ Perenara at halfback.
"We have selected an experienced team, which has combinations that have played some of our best rugby this season," said Robertson.
"The Bledisloe Cup is so revered by both of these teams; we are expecting a classic showdown against our Australian rivals.
"We have acknowledged the rich history of the Cup this week as a team and recognise that history does not bestow any rights. The Bledisloe Cup is always hard-earned and each year is its own chapter in the Bledisloe story."
All Blacks: 1 Ethan de Groot 2 Codie Taylor 3 Tyrel Lomax 4 Scott Barrett (c) 5 Tupou Vaa'i 6 Wallace Sititi 7 Sam Cane 8 Ardie Savea 9 Cortez Ratima 10 Damian McKenzie 11 Caleb Clarke 12 Jordie Barrett 13 Rieko Ioane 14 Will Jordan 15 Beauden Barrett
Bench: 16 Asafo Aumua 17 Tamaiti Williams 18 Pasilio Tosi 19 Sam Darry 20 Luke Jacobson 21 TJ Perenara 22 Anton Lienert-Brown 23 Sevu Reece
Wallabies: TBC