LIVE | All Blacks v Wallabies: Rugby Championship – 5 September 2021

After weeks of delays due to Covid-19 related issues and a stoush between the two boards over the location and timing of this fixture, the third match of the 2021 Bledisloe Cup – which doubles as the second Rugby Championship clash between the Wallabies and All Blacks – finally gets underway at Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, 5 September.

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Never mind that Australia failed to get their hands back on the trophy for a 19th consecutive year – there are Rugby Championship points still up for grabs in this Round 2 affair and there’s sure to be no love lost on the pitch.

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Australia could perhaps draw some inspiration from the fact that their last meetings with New Zealand in both 2020 and 2017 resulted in home victories, whilst the only meeting between these two sides at Optus Stadium saw Australia triumph 47-26 in 2019 prior to the World Cup.

That, however, accounts for all three of the Wallabies’ wins over the All Blacks from the last 19 clashes (D1, L15), whilst they’ve won just two of their last 15 matches as pre-match outsiders against all oppositions (D1, L12).

The delay in this match has afforded them extra preparation time though to account for a defensive performance described by their own scrumhalf Tate McDermott as “embarrassing” and not befitting of an elite tier nation.

Since the start of 2018, Australia have conceded an average of 34.09 points per head-to-head match across all venues.

Matt Toomua is one of the victims of their most recent poor outing, with exciting centre Samu Kerevi among the inclusions made by Dave Rennie in response.

Undefeated as favourites this season, the All Blacks have won the ‘race to 10 points’ and recorded half-time leads in all five of their victories whilst scoring the opening try in four.

Despite that, more than 61% of their tries recorded this season have been scored after half-time, contributing to all five of their matches seeing the second half as the highest scoring half.

Players to watch

Andrew Kellaway has opened the scoring for Australia in both meetings with the All Blacks this season, whilst New Zealand’s Will Jordan has found the line in all four of his international appearances this year.

Hot stat

All but one match involving either team in 2021 has exceeded the pre-match total points handicap.

TEAMS:

Australia

15 Tom Banks, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper

Substitutes: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Nic White, 22 Reece Hodge, 23 Jordan Petaia

New Zealand

15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 David Havili, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Brad Webber, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower

Substitutes: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 George Bridge

MATCH INFORMATION, TV DETAILS, KICK-OFF TIME, LIVE STREAM

Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth

Date: Sunday, 5 September, 2021

Kick-off: 08:00 (SA time)

Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

Assistant Referee 1: Jordan Way (Australia)

Assistant Referee 2: Graham Cooper (Australia)

TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)

TV: SuperSport