Key events
8 mins: Another attack from Australia! Lovely ball playing from the backs once more who look in sync running deep lines with sharp hands. Jorgensen enters the fray in the left centre position and attempts the decisive long assist out to Potter but he misses mark fractionally and New Zealand survive. They are then awarded a breakdown penalty off the lineout to allow them to kick beyond halfway.
7 mins: McKenzie belts the ball out of his 22 towards halfway to stop the clock after five minutes of breathless running rugby from both teams. Australia might regret not scoring during their ascendancy. Excellent defence from the visitors though.
6 mins: The Wallabies go again! Ross makes a burst, Jorgensen finds room on the right. McReight joins in but his pass to Wilson on the touchline goes to ground. No knock-on and Australia shift infield. Slower now, until some sharp ball-playing from the backs creates an opening on the left. New Zealand cover, the drive moves infield but 5m out, under the crossbar, there’s a turnover on the ground and the All Blacks run clear through Taylor. This has been an enterprising start from the home team.
4 mins: Australia win early lineout ball and again Lonergan is quick to kick, and again the All Blacks deal with it. Judging these high bombs isn’t easy with the afternoon sunshine casting half Accor Stadium in shadow and the other half in a bold glare.
New Zealand go through their work for six phases then find room on the right edge on phase seven, but just as momentum starts to build Lonergan turns the ball over superbly on the ground. The Wallabies counter at pace! Suaalii finds an audacious offload out of contact, Wright flick passes out to Jorgensen who crosses halfway. Australia’s commitment to attacking footy is to their credit. As play moves infield the ABs get men around the ruck and are able to clear their lines.
2 mins: Both teams kick early before Nasser takes the first drive into the defensive line. The Wallabies only roll through a few phases before Lonergan goes to the boot again but the All Blacks handle Jorgensen’s pressure. Roigard tries an up-and-under of his own but it’s poorly directed. Nonetheless it comes off gold hands and back New Zealand’s way. The visitors recognise the opportunity to expand and go through hands to the right but Suaalii is across smartly to bundle Tupaea into touch.
Not only that but Tupaea is forced to leave the field for an HIA after some whiplash contact on the Accor Stadium turf.
Kick-off!
Bledisloe II is under way…
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is first down the race for the Wallabies on the occasion of his 50th cap. As with the All Blacks, every Australian pays their respects to Charles, who is shaking hands while balancing on a single crutch.
It’s skipper Codie Taylor that is out onto the field first though, leading his players past Nathan Charles, allowing every All Black to shake the former Wallaby hooker by the hand.
Damien McKenzie is responsible for the final prematch rev-up. Vision of his address appears to show every member of the New Zealand squad wearing bright coral pink boots to sign off their otherwise entirely black outfit. It’s a very strong look.
Today’s referee is Englishman Luke Pearce.
The Wallabies are wearing their First Nations uniform this afternoon, and all jerseys will feature 881, the cap number of Nathan Charles, stitched into the material. The former hooker was recently diagnosed with MND and is a guest of honour at the ground today, including conducting the prematch coin toss.
Above ground, atmospheric conditions are glorious. The temperature in Sydney is mild, the light rain of recent days has drifted away, and the afternoon’s easterly breeze is on the wane.
The Accor Stadium ground itself looks very patchy. This is the fourth match of a busy day that has already featured the Wallaroos v Scotland, Australia’s men’s 7s v Fiji, and Australia’s women’s 7s v New Zealand.
Team News
Wallabies:
Australia coach Les Kiss has named Declan Meredith as starting flyhalf and uncapped playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips as back-up. with both Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson unavailable because of leg injuries.
An injury to Len Ikitau and the continuing suspension of Hunter Paisami have forced Kiss to move Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii back into the centres alongside Isaac Henry. Harry Potter comes in on the left wing with Filipo Daugunu covering from the bench.
Former All Blacks loosehead prop Aidan Ross gets a start in the front row with Angus Bell moved back to the replacements. Josh Nasser moves up from the bench to start at hooker with Billy Pollard backing him up and Brandon Paenga-Amosa dropped.
Forwards Josh Canham and Carlo Tizzano also come in to bolster the finishers, a group that includes Kalani Thomas, who is set to win his third cap as back-up to Ryan Lonergan, with Tate McDermott dropped from the matchday squad.
All Blacks:
New Zealand coach Dave Rennie made three changes to his starting side earlier this week, bringing in Fabian Holland for Josh Lord at lock, replacing Ethan de Groot with George Bower at loosehead prop, and promoting Josh Moorby to cover for the injured Leroy Carter on the wing. Then on gameday he was forced to withdraw Jordie Barrett after the imperious centre complained of a tight calf. Timoci Tavatavanawai comes into the run-on side with Chay Fihaki to debut off the bench.
Richie Mo’unga remains unavailable because of a calf injury so Damian McKenzie gets another run in the No 10 shirt, with Beauden Barrett again starting at fullback but joining in the build-up frequently.
“The Wallabies are a proud side and they’ll be hurting after last week,” Rennie said. “It’s a great challenge for us to now face them in front of their home crowd in Sydney.”
New Zealand XV
1. George Bower, 2. Codie Taylor (c), 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Tupou Vaa’i, 7. Peter Lakai, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Josh Moorby, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13. Quinn Tupaea, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Beauden Barrett.
Replacements: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Shannon Frizell, 20. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Chay Fihaki, 23. Rieko Ioane.
Australia XV
15. Tom Wright, 14. Max Jorgensen, 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12. Isaac Henry, 11. Harry Potter, 10. Declan Meredith, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 8. Harry Wilson (c), 7. Fraser McReight, 6. Rob Valetini, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4. Jeremy Williams, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Josh Nasser, 1. Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16. Billy Pollard, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Massimo De Lutiis, 19. Josh Canham, 20. Carlo Tizzano, 21. Kalani Thomas, 22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23. Filipo Daugunu.
Jack Snape
The return Bledisloe Cup match for the Wallabies is the showpiece in a glorious afternoon of Australian union beginning with the Wallaroos’ clash against Scotland, followed by two sevens showdowns against the men’s Fiji side and New Zealand’s women.
The carnival spirit of the afternoon, however, will be cancelled if the Wallabies are tortured like they were against the All Blacks in Eden Park last week. The 17-14 half-time margin made way for a 50-19 humbling, just the ninth time in Australia’s proud rugby history their men’s XV have copped a half-century. The win was the All Blacks’ 12th in a row against the Wallabies, quashing optimism that had built steadily over the first three months under coach Les Kiss.
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v New Zealand in the second and final match of the 2026 Bledisloe Cup. Kick-off at Sydney’s Accor Stadium is scheduled for 4pm local time (6pm NZDT).
The destination of the humungous silver trophy may already be decided for another year but there remains plenty to play for as the Wallabies sign off on home soil for 2026. Not least demonstrating the capacity to bounce back after a first defeat in six matches.
Last weekend’s reverse in Auckland exacerbated Australia’s issues at No 10, forcing another round of playmaker musical chairs. It also reinforced concerns over the national team’s strength in depth. While the first XV is now world class, and a fully fit squad is up there with the best, injuries, suspensions, and European absentees reveal a threadbare group.
Les Kiss’s ability to make the most of the talent at his disposal will be put to the test in Sydney as he makes do without the likes of Will Skelton, Len Ikitau, Carter Gordon, and Taniela Tupou, not to mention a host of other contenders for spots in his matchday 23.
“We got a clear picture last weekend of where we need to be better,” Kiss said during the week. “We’ve said all along we’ll continue to work hard and grow our game, and the squad has been impressive in the way they have prepared this week.”
The All Blacks are far from full strength themselves but they stormed home in the second half at Eden Park and arrive at Accor Stadium with only minimal changes. They were guided around masterfully in Auckland by Cam Roigard, the scrum-half benefiting from the instinct of Damien McKenzie and experience of Beauden Barrett on his outside.
Even on Australian soil New Zealand will start hot favourites to extend their already record winning streak against the Wallabies to 13.
I’ll be back with final team lists and more shortly. Please send me your emails and keep me company throughout the evening. The address is jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.
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