Barrett brothers named to start for final Bledisloe clash

All Blacks secure the Bledisloe Cup for another year with a dominant display at Eden Park in Bledisloe Two

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has swung the changes to New Zealand's Bledisloe Cup-winning side, starting three Barrett brothers for the third trans-Tasman Test on Sunday.

Lock Scott Barrett replaces Samuel Whitelock in the only change to the All Blacks forward line for the Perth match.

Click here to get your tickets for the eToro Rugby Championship

It's all change among the backs, with Jordie Barrett at fullback and Beauden Barrett as the starting No.10.

Only Ardie Savea, captaining the All Blacks in Whitelock's absence, David Havili and Will Jordan will start in the same backline roles from the second Bledisloe Cup Test.

"We are ready, and the team is really determined to finish off this block of Tests against Australia with a top performance.," coach Ian Foster said in a statement.

"We’ve had a really unique situation going into this Test, with quarantine back in New Zealand and a ‘soft’ quarantine here in Perth, but the work that has gone in preparing the players has been outstanding, so when the whistle goes on Sunday, we’ll be ready.

“In the forwards, we have picked a group that is most recently battle-hardened. A lot of them played in the first two Bledisloe Cup Tests, so it’s right to go with them in this Fortinet Rugby Championship Test.”

READ MORE:

BEHIND THE JERSEY: The return to gold

CLUB CORNER: QLD prepares for GF

KELLAWAY: The rise of the quiet-achievers

In addition to the Barretts, Brad Weber and Anton Lienert-Brown have squeezed into the line-up as part of five changes to the All Blacks side.

“Brad has been with us through the Steinlager Series and coming into the Rugby Championship, we really wanted to build the nine combination, especially with Aaron not here and to complement TJ’s leadership and experience, so this is a great opportunity to put our faith in Brad to start the Test," Foster added.

New Zealand retained the Bledisloe for the 19th straight year last month with a pair of victories at Auckland's Eden Park.

Sunday's Test at Perth's Optus Stadium will count as part of the Rugby Championship, which will then conclude in Queensland.

New Zealand (15-1): Jordie Barrett; Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, David Havili, Rieko Ioane; Beauden Barrett, Brad Webber; Ardie Savea (capt), Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane; Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick; Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, George Bower

Replacements: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Angus Ta'avao, Tupou Vaa'i, Ethan Blackadder, TJ Perenara, Damian McKenzie, George Bridge

Share
Allan Alaalatoa is hungry to make up for lost time after missing out on the 2013 Lions tour and the 2023 World Cup. Photo: Getty Images
'We have a job to do': Alaalatoa hungry for redemption against Lions after missing World Cup
NSW Waratahs and Wallabies scrum-half Jake Gordon admits he was taken aback by rumours linking him to the next Australian captaincy. Photo: Getty Images
'Out of nowhere': Gordon reacts to Wallabies captaincy rumours, gives injury update
Nick Champion de Crespigny was the main bolter in the Wallabies squad. Photo: Western Force Media
Schmidt aiming for versatility, physicality and set piece first with forward bolters
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says he'll "keep investing" in Australia's young crop of playmakers
Wallabies to 'keep investing' in young playmakers as O'Connor omission explained