Gordon and Skelton back for the Wallabies as Jordan hits 50 for the All Blacks

Experienced pair of Jake Gordon and Will Skelton have been named to start for the Wallabies in Saturday’s sold-out second Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth.

They are two of five changes to the starting XV from last weekend’s Test in Auckland, with Filipo Daugunu earning his first start of the year on the left wing, Allan Alaalatoa starting at tighthead prop and Tane Edmed selected to partner NSW teammate Gordon in the halves.

Alaalatoa will start in an all-Brumbies front row, with Billy Pollard named at hooker and Australian record holder James Slipper at loosehead prop in what will be his 151st and final appearance in Wallaby gold - the Test serving as the deciding round of the 2025 Rugby Championship.

Skelton reignites his combination with Nick Frost in the second row, while there is an unchanged loose forward trio of Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight and captain Harry Wilson - with the side set to wear their First Nations jersey for what is their final home Test of 2025.

Centre partners Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will continue to build their connection in the midfield, while Daugunu joins winger Harry Potter and fullback Max Jorgensen in the back three.

Queensland’s Josh Nasser has been named as the replacement hooker, with Tom Robertson and Taniela Tupou the substitute props.

Western Force skipper Jeremy Williams will play in front of his adopted hometown of Perth for the first time, while back-to-back John Eales Medallist Rob Valetini is named on the bench after recovering from calf tightness.

Newly capped scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan earns another chance in gold having come on to play 62 minutes in his debut last weekend, with James O’Connor the replacement playmaker. The versatile Josh Flook rounds out the matchday 23 in what will be his first Test of 2025.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “The squad has dusted themselves off from the disappointment in Auckland and they’ve worked away this week, in preparation for what’s going to be another torrid Test match against New Zealand on Saturday.

“The support has been fantastic this year, especially when playing in Australia and we’ll be hoping to put in a performance that is worthy of that support in our final home Test of 2025.”

Meanwhile, the All Blacks selectors have named their team to play Australia, with six changes to the team that started the first Bledisloe Cup match in Auckland last weekend.

Several of the changes are injury-forced with Beauden Barett and Ethan de Groot remaining in New Zealand, while Tyrel Lomax (thumb injury) and Caleb Clarke (ankle) will not play this Test. Lomax suffered a broken thumb in the first Bledisloe Cup match at Eden Park and after a scan yesterday, will return home to New Zealand this evening.

In the forwards, captain Scott Barrett returns to the side in the No 4 jersey, partnering Tupou Vaa’i in the second row. Peter Lakai is set for his first Test start, at No 8, after four previous appearances off the bench with Wallace Sititi moving into an impact role, while Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell come into the front row

In the backs Damian McKenzie starts at flyhalf, Leicester Fainga'anuku will play his first Test since the 2023 Rugby World Cup and will start on the left wing while Quinn Tupaea starts in the No 13 jersey for the first time. Will Jordan will make his 50th Test appearance in an All Black jersey as he runs out on Saturday.

In addition to the changes to the starting XV, there are six changes on the bench for the final round clash in the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship and second Bledisloe Cup Test.

All Black head coach Scott Robertson said the team was looking forward to building on the performance at Eden Park, as the Rugby Championship goes down to the wire.

“We saw how competitive and determined the Wallabies were in Auckland last weekend, staying in the fight right to the end. We expect another tough contest this Saturday. We have picked a 23 to go toe-to-toe with a quality Australian team.

“It’s all up for grabs in what has been the most even Rugby Championship we’ve ever seen; and we’re here to cap off this competition with a performance we can be proud of.”

Opta Pack - The Rugby Championship 2025 Round 6 - Australia v New Zealand.pdf

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Australia v New Zealand at Optus Stadium, Perth, Australia - 11.45am

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Morné Ferreira (SARU)

Television Match Official: Andrew Jackson (RFU)

Split Screen/FPRO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Wallaby starting XV: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Filipo Daugunu; 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon; 8 Harry Wilson (capt), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper; 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost; 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper. Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Tom Robinson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Rob Valetini, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 James O'Connor, 23 Josh Flook.

All Black starting XV: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Leroy carter, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leicester Fainga'anuku; 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard; 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker; 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (capt); 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams. Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 George Bower, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Ruben Love.