Retallick returns to All Blacks for 1st Bledisloe test

By STEVE McMORRAN 05 August 2021, 12:00AM

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — All Blacks head coach Ian Foster will finally unleash what he believes to be his strongest team in Saturday’s first Bledisloe Cup rugby test against Australia.

Foster tinkered with his lineup in July test matches against Tonga and Fiji, naming something close to his strongest available team in the second test against Fiji two weeks ago.

The team named by Foster on Thursday has three personnel and two key positional changes from the one which most-recently played against Fiji.

Foster has named Rieko Ioane on the left wing, forcing Sevu Reece to move across the right wing and displacing prolific try-scorer Will Jordan, who has a slight hamstring strain.

Dalton Papalii will start his sixth test on the openside flank, causing Ardie Savea to move to No. 8 in a backrow still unsettled by the absence through injury of regular captain Sam Cane.

Brodie Retallick, who has been working hard to regain test form after spending two years in Japan, finally is reunited with Sam Whitelock in the starting second row. Lock Scott Barrett drops to the bench alongside brothers Jordie and Beauden.

Foster again has favored Richie Mo’unga over Beauden Barrett at flyhalf and Damian McKenzie at fullback over Jordie Barrett.

George Bower has retained the starting role at loosehead prop in the absence of the injured Joe Moody and ahead of the more experienced Karl Tu’inukuafe.

Foster has made a contentious call in preferring Akira Ioane on the blindside flank. Steve Hansen, Foster’s predecessor as head coach, called out Ioane for a lack of work ethic and discipline in a rare public criticism of a All Blacks player.

Foster seems confident the abrasive Blues loose forward has mended his ways, though he seldom stands out in matches and the All Blacks seem to be waiting for a stronger blindside candidate to emerge.

Scrumhalf Aaron Smith will play his 100th test Saturday in the first of two Bledisloe Cup tests over consecutive weekends at Auckland’s Eden Park.

“He’s a special man,” Foster said of Smith. “He’s achieved so much in the black jersey and has been an iconic player for us over the last decade.”

Saturday’s match will be a major test for the All Blacks and for Foster, who has yet to win the full support of New Zealand fans after succeeding Hansen. He had only a 50% win record in his first season and presided over the All Blacks’ first-ever loss to Argentina.

New Zealand’s heavy wins over Tonga and Fiji last month were expected and were not a major test of the team or coach.

“There is huge excitement in our group at what lies ahead this weekend,” Foster said. “There is such a huge history with the Bledisloe Cup. The rivalry between the All Blacks and Australia goes back a long, long way, and it’s always a massive contest.”

The All Blacks have held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003 and haven’t lost to Australia at Eden Park since 1986.

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New Zealand: Damian McKenzie, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, George Bower. Reserves: Dane Coles, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Angus Ta’avao, Scott Barrett, Luke Jacobson; Brad Weber, Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett.

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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

By STEVE McMORRAN 05 August 2021, 12:00AM
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