The Bledisloe Cup is staying in New Zealand for another 12 months. But nobody told the Wallabies this one doesn’t count. It’s the last home Test of 2026, and the Wallabies wear their First Nations jersey in front of a home crowd at Accor Stadium. After a 50-19 hiding at Eden Park, this is about pride, not silverware.
Wallabies v All Blacks: Bledisloe Cup Test 2 Preview
Pride, Pivots and a Patched-Up Playmaker Problem
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney | Date/Time: 17 October, 2:45pm AEST | Referee: Luke Pearce
The Lowdown
Let’s not dress it up. The All Blacks have won the last 12 meetings, averaging 35 points to Australia’s 20 in the last 5, last Saturday’s 31-point margin was the ugliest of the lot.
Les Kiss says the Wallabies got a clear picture in Auckland of where they need to be better. The team sheet says he’s had to reshuffle a fair chunk of it anyway.
The No. 10 jersey is cursed again.
- Ben Donaldson is out with a minor upper leg injury.
- North Queensland junior Declan Meredith gets his first Bledisloe start at flyhalf.
- The upside is familiarity. Meredith and halfback Ryan Lonergan are a club halves pairing, so at least the 9 and 10 know each other’s calls.
- On the bench, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is uncapped and in line to become Wallaby number 1001. Given how Australian flyhalves have been dropping, don’t be shocked if he’s on early.
Midfield and back three:
- Len Ikitau is out after a concussion at Eden Park.
- Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii shifts back to outside centre, with Isaac Henry inside him.
- Waratahs winger Harry Potter plays his first Test in Sydney on the left edge.
- Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright stay put.
Up front:
- Aidan Ross and Josh Nasser come into a reshaped front row alongside the experienced Allan Alaalatoa.
- Lukhan Salakaia-Loto brings up his 50th Test. He’s come a long way since debuting in a 27-all draw in Bloemfontein back in 2017 and being snubbed by Joe Schmiddt at times.
- The loose forward trio of Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight and skipper Harry Wilson is unchanged.
- McReight is the key man there. New Zealand appeared to make him tackle all night last week, keeping him off the ball at the breakdown. If he can get his hands on it in Sydney, the Wallabies have a pulse.
Australia’s real weapon might be the bench. Angus Bell, Billy Pollard, a returning Josh Canham, Carlo Tizzano and Kalani Thomas, who is playing his first Bledisloe Test, give Kiss genuine punch for the final half hour. The question is whether the Wallabies are still in the fight when the cavalry arrives.
Over the ditch, Dave Rennie has gone with a strong side, not a development one. He’s chasing New Zealand’s 130th Test win over Australia and wants this performance to back up Eden Park.
The All Blacks team announcement shows eight changes to the 23, but only three in the run-on side:
- Josh Moorby replaces the injured Leroy Carter on the left wing.
- Fabian Holland replaces Josh Lord at lock.
- George Bower starts while Ethan de Groot gets a week off.
The bench is where Kiwis are excited:
- Du’Plessis Kirifi brings breakdown mongrel, and probably a few penalties.
- Timoci Tavatavanawai finally gets a shot in the 23 and needs minutes to prove his fitness.
- Cortez Ratima gets another chance at halfback cover after Kyle Preston featured in every All Blacks game this year.
- The reserve front row of Samisoni Taukei’aho, Xavier Numia and Pasilio Tosi is enormous.
The form guide does offer Australia a crumb. The Wallabies have won three of their last five tests, including a 42-38 thriller over the Springboks. The All Blacks lost three straight to South Africa before Eden Park.
The early exchanges are the danger zone, though:
- New Zealand have scored first in all of their last five Tests.
- The Wallabies have won the race to 10 points just once in that stretch.
- In the last five Bledisloe meetings, the team that scored the first try won 60 per cent of the time.
Prediction
On paper, it’s a mismatch. An All Blacks win by 15 or more is the single most likely outcome, according to the numbers. Australia is a genuine roughie, but home soil gives them a puncher’s chance. So do Salakaia-Loto’s 50th Test, the headline of the Wallabies team announcement, and the occasion of the first quadruple header in Australian Rugby history.
For an upset, the Wallabies need to start fast for once. They’ve won the race to 10 points just once in their last five. They also need McReight free at the ruck and Meredith to keep it simple. If New Zealand get their usual fast start, with Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett running the show and Will Jordan lurking, the bench won’t matter.
Expect the Wallabies to be braver and tighter than in Auckland. Just not enough.
Prediction: All Blacks by 16
Match Squads
Wallabies:
- Aidan Ross
- Josh Nasser
- Allan Alaalatoa
- Jeremy Williams
- Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
- Rob Valetini
- Fraser McReight
- Harry Wilson (c)
- Ryan Lonergan
- Declan Meredith
- Harry Potter
- Isaac Henry
- Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
- Max Jorgensen
- Tom Wright
Replacements:
- Billy Pollard
- Angus Bell
- Massimo De Lutiis
- Josh Canham
- Carlo Tizzano
- Kalani Thomas
- Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (uncapped)
- Filipo Daugunu
All Blacks (Test caps in brackets):
- George Bower (30)
- Codie Taylor (c) (113)
- Fletcher Newell (42)
- Scott Barrett (90)
- Fabian Holland (15)
- Tupou Vaa’i (52)
- Peter Lakai (15)
- Wallace Sititi (24)
- Cam Roigard (25)
- Damian McKenzie (82)
- Josh Moorby (6)
- Jordie Barrett (86)
- Quinn Tupaea (30)
- Will Jordan (62)
- Beauden Barrett (146)
Replacements:
- Samisoni Taukei’aho (45)
- Xavier Numia (5)
- Pasilio Tosi (18)
- Shannon Frizell (34)
- Du’Plessis Kirifi (8)
- Cortez Ratima (24)
- Timoci Tavatavanawai (2)
- Rieko Ioane (90)
Unavailable (All Blacks): Leroy Carter (ankle), Anton Segner (concussion), Asafo Aumua (concussion), Ethan Blackadder (calf), Richie Mo’unga (calf), Fehi Fineanganofo (hamstring)
Unavailable (Wallabies): Len Ikitau (concussion), Ben Donaldson (upper leg)
Wallaroos v Scotland and both Australian Sevens sides also feature on the day, all part of the quadruple header at Accor Stadium.
Just read that Jordie Barrett has been ruled out.
Blooming heck
That’s massive
Great write up. Love your way with words. Our team seems very weak on test experience in key positions. LK looked a bit worried in his interviews re the team selected. I just hope this game is not another pounding.
I be driving from Geraldton to Ashburton Downs tomorrow a 13 odd hour drive back to remote camp so will have to catch the replay
I want to know what’s going on at RANSW, they are meant to be working for the benefit of the WaRATahs but when it comes to key positions like 10 they certainly aren’t.
Tahs have had to go to the retirement home to find a Wallabies 10 to add to their roster with Nard Foley, all while allowing two capped young Wallaby 10s to be signed by other Oz sides and our next most promising sent offshore.
So Wallaby 10s by team:
Force – Donaldson, McLaughlin-Phillips, O’Connor, Beale
Reds – Carter Gordon, Lynagh
Brumbies – Meredith, Edmed
Tahs – Foley
O/S – Lolesio
Not good enough from RA, it’s almost enough to make me think they aren’t rigging the squads in my team’s favour!
Actually I’ve been banging on about it for years how can NSWRA be supporting only NSW so blatantly for donkeys and NSW as a team has mostly resembled a lemon so im glad someone has noticed jeznez im mean for giddy aunt most of the followers cant read it like you.
You forgot Burey
He’ll join the list if he plays 10 for the Wallabies.
I really hope he’s the Tahs first choice this year, rather than Foley.
Yes, I don’t understand why Kissy hasn’t got him in the squad.
Harry outplayed him during Super AU, definitely think he’s the right selection.
I guess we’ll see who is fit come November for broader squad selection
The only chance we have is to play like Italy against England when the Azzurri did not contest the rucks. That was great open play!!!!!. I don’t know how long people have been saying our defense is too passive, does not come up as a smother and drifts sideways and backwards. Lynagh should think of retiring. Injuries and players being overseas have decimated us and wee have no chance, but please keep the score under 50.
It’s not looking like LK is ready to shake up the establishment that’s for sure. It makes it difficult to expect changed results when the rhetoric remains the same as it has been for the past decade plus
Better looking bench for wallaby’s, Tatics for nz will be same dmac is there to carve up so he needs to be nullified or and taken out, will be a arm wrestle up front until domination unfolds so wallaby’s must out muscle and dictate with aggression and big ticker, In time it will only blow out something has to give and thats the scoreline as we all know.
Kiwis bench too strong.
Kiss needs plan A B and C home advantage won’t be much of a factor have to go the distance or fall off, good luck to both teams.
Pommy ref ,
Kiwis have our measure like Barry Michael had Lester Ellis measure like our test cricketers have the kiwis measure ..They play similar style but faster they beat us in Super rugby generally every year..Our only hope really is at home one off test best players fit and motivated on the pitch ..I ask you do we have that this weekend?
Computer says no
We’ll have it in the pools game next year, to ensure we get Safrica in the quarters and the blecks get the cruise to the final
In a fairytale dream world thats nice but at the tab it probly wont compute,, but on the day in a year or so it’s true big event only on game days counts so nothing is out of the question fully.
As for HOME ADVANTAGE I think it counts for little these days its more about heart and will I dont like home advantage talk in this decade it shouldn’t come into it, I know I wavered a little but thought was a good point
The defence is far too passive, and obsolete. That is why wallabies lost and not because of their attack.
I see little chance of a win, AB’s will be gifted a lot of time and space which means they can easily manipulate the defence again and score a lot of tries.
Correctly assessed- whereas All Blacks defensively gave less room as the game continued. Where is the Wallabies rush D? We looked to be waiting for them to come to us…
Squidge did a bit about the slide defence and how it worked against SA.
Seems like the All Blacks watched it though
Not the selections I would have made, but Kiss seems to have painted himself somewhat into a corner.
The use of Suaalii really frustrates me. If he is the best winger, leave him on the wing. If he is the best centre, leave him at centre. Not if one or the other is his best position, because he hasn’t demonstrated enough rugby nous to unseat anyone else in their natural position. If he’s seen as a jack of all trades, put him on the bench.
With the current squad I would have preferred 12 Henry 13 Daugunu because at least there’s some existing cohesion there. Glad Kalani is getting a run over Tate.
I agree on JSA, leave him be. Though Daugunu struggled in Argentina. Agree on Tate having a rest.
I hope Tateeee is not getting rested, I hope it’s more along the lines of shafted
Last year before injury he was our super sub, but agree needs to go find form
It is clear JAS is a better winger than a centre.
So agree leave him there.
So either Daugunu at 13 as you suggest or Paisami at 12 and Henry at 13.
They have good combination with both sets being at the reds.
Its not as if Potter covered himself in glory.
Also agree that McDermott should be dropped.
If Paisami wasn’t having a forced rest I guess he would have been in there.
sorry i forgot about his suspension
And the backs click better when jas is not in the starting 15
How are you in this injury crisis not going to name the 6 million man? That’s silly talk
Unlike Lee majors we cannot rebuild him.
Clutch Cargo hinders the backline but nswra must play the teachers pet to save face
Glad Kalani was bought in for Tate. He should concentrate on having a good off season and coming back to his 2025 form which was 412% better than he is showing now.
Surprised about BPA as both Nasser and Pollard are a step down.
Starting team is weaker but the bench looks stronger than last week. LSL needs to pull out a big game to come close to matching Barrett or Lord. If the finishing locks are Williams and Canham we might be in with a chance. Maybe.
As always, it’s the hope that kills, but at least we are only going into this game with a small amount of it.
With Tizzano in they had to drop another Force player I believe so BPA had to go.
Rules is rules, can’t let the Westerners get too uppity you know.
No BPA is a disapointment. bench is tasty.
Surely BPA must be injured??
Or rested?
why he gets a big break after this game, also he was rotated out not so long ago.
Poor decision to drop him.
Hes a leader a inspiration he will be missed its a tough toil as it is
agree BPA best hooker and keeps getting dropped which is poor, it is not as if he needs a rest, even if he does then have him on the bench. Big break to next game.
Donno out again, why are all our 10s made of glass?
Meredith’s chance to shine
At least he is out through injury rather than being dropped, but yes they are fragile. Just saw that Tom Lynagh has been pulled from the US trip through injury. On the upside, fingers crossed Carter Gordon can be back for the NH tour.
Piru, you must at least be happy they brought in HMP rather than Tane.
But yes, the entire group are struggling to stay fit.
I wonder if Noah gets a look in the November window?
Is the November window 3 or 4 weeks
Nov 6-29
Surprised they didn’t send Burey tbh
Nah, Harry played stronger in their head to head.
Hopefully Burey off to Nashville though.
I liked the look of Burey in the early Super AU. But he went quiet esp vs Force
This Tizzano fella must be good, he cost CDC and BPA
Tizzy is brilliant, did you know he’s a former Tah? And ‘Once a Tah, Always a Tah’
He’s also West Australian.
I love Carlo, one of my favourites
Big fan of Try-zano!
I’d have Tizz over CdC, but no BPA brings tears to my eyes.
HMP too, I like him! there is a solidness about him and an unwavering ability to rise to the occasion that I think will serve him well. I hope they take Lolesio on the Spring tour. Can’t they forgive him for leaving us?
As Rennie would say must win that collision…Set piece will be even going on last week we have to stop them on gainline get players over ball and in attack make post contact metres . Meredith needs to display a game that so far been unsighted and that midfield with its size needs to somehow pierce there talented opposition centres right thru the middle.. Meredith does have a decent kicking game and it needs to be right on song as 50/22 stuff will give us opportunity in there 22 where we have shown some scoring potential..Not confident obviously but this team has potential for upset.
Not generally a believer in back to the future selections, but it’s hard to argue with Drew Mitchell’s take this week. For all his prior indiscretions, Beale seems like a logical inclusion post Eden Park thumping. The only 1 of the 3 amigos who’s been playing recently and has actually put decent minutes together, albeit against average opposition.
Further to Drew’s point, surely this is the time to be exploring interest / condition of Lolesio and Kerevi? Even if it’s nothing other than an insurance policy, it’s a worthy exercise.
We now take on an ABs team who are hot off a huge victory, and have selected an arguably stronger team than last week.
Lonergan, Meredith and Henry are so early in their respective test careers, it’s hard to see how this weekend doesn’t leave lasting scars.
I’ll be heading to the game and hoping to be pleasantly surprised.
Thankfully, I wont have to watch McDermott do as McDermott always does
I don’t buy the ‘lasting scar’ stuff. IMO it buys a bit of cover from never being up to it in the first place.
But yes agree it would be good to have someone like Beale. I was surprised at how fit he looked.
With Holland coming in, the ABs should have the edge in the set piece.
Canham on the bench evens it out a little.
That said, it will be the collisions where the game is one, and that’s where NZ have the big advantage.
It really is a tasty bench
Frizell Kirifi Tavatavanawai