Wallabies name Isaac Henry for Eden Park Bledisloe Cup opener

The Wallabies have named Isaac Henry to replace suspended centre Hunter Paisami for Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland. Australia announced the side ahead of the 10 October opener, keeping Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii on the wing as it seeks its first win over New Zealand at the ground since 1986.

Henry is the only change to the starting side that beat South Africa 42-38 in Perth. Len Ikitau, who passed a fitness test on an ankle injury, moves from outside to inside centre to partner Henry. Coach Les Kiss has kept the rest of the run-on team together for a match that starts a two-Test series, with the return fixture scheduled for Sydney on 17 October.

Why Isaac Henry starts against the All Blacks

ABC News reported that Henry, 27, will wear the No. 13 jersey and play his fifth Test. Kiss previously coached him at the Queensland Reds and gave him his Test debut against Japan in Osaka two months ago. Henry’s selection allows Ikitau to move inward following Paisami’s suspension, while Suaalii remains in the back three after starting on the wing against South Africa.

Suaalii is listed on the left wing, Max Jorgensen on the right and Tom Wright at fullback. Ryan Lonergan and Ben Donaldson continue as the starting halves, while Harry Wilson captains Australia from No. 8. Kiss told The Guardian he wanted to preserve the continuity of the back three and pointed to Jorgensen’s and Suaalii’s work in the air against South Africa.

What Australia must overcome at Eden Park

The venue record gives the opener weight beyond one team selection. New Zealand Rugby says the All Blacks are unbeaten in 53 Tests at Eden Park and have held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003. Australia last beat the All Blacks there in 1986. ABC News notes that the Wallabies did beat Wales at Eden Park in the 2011 Rugby World Cup third-place playoff; that result does not end the separate winless run against New Zealand at the ground.

The Guardian reports that Australia must win both the Auckland Test and the return match in Sydney to reclaim the Cup. A victory on Saturday would therefore be a necessary first step, rather than the end of the contest. For New Zealand, the opener is an opportunity to protect both its long unbeaten run at Eden Park and its hold on the trophy. Neither outcome is settled before the teams take the field.

Australia arrives after its 42-38 win over South Africa in Perth. The Guardian reported that Kiss retained that starting side apart from Paisami’s replacement. The coach described Eden Park as a stadium whose atmosphere can engulf a visiting team if it is unprepared. His selection keeps the players who won in Perth together while asking Henry to fill the vacancy in midfield.

How the All Blacks line up for the first Test

New Zealand’s published selection names Damian McKenzie at first five-eighth and Beauden Barrett at fullback. Codie Taylor will captain the All Blacks from hooker, with Scott Barrett returning to the starting locks. Cam Roigard starts at halfback, and Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea form the midfield pairing. Richie Mo’unga is listed as unavailable because of a calf injury.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie, a former Wallabies coach, told The Guardian that his side was highly motivated and that the fixture was not about his personal history with Rugby Australia. In New Zealand Rugby’s team announcement, Rennie said the Bledisloe Cup carried history and pride for the group and that every Test against Australia had weight. Those comments frame the stakes for the hosts without predicting how Saturday’s match will finish.

The first Test is scheduled to kick off at 7.10pm local time on 10 October at Eden Park. The second is set for 17 October in Sydney. The selected teams establish who is due to play, but the Auckland result, Australia’s bid to end its Eden Park drought and the fate of the Cup remain open until the matches are played.