Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-08 · by Steve Mcmorran The Associated Press
New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team will face Australia in the first Bledisloe Cup test on Saturday with an injury-depleted lineup. Damian McKenzie will start at flyhalf and Beauden Barrett at fullback, roles typically reversed for them. Scott Barrett returns to play lock after missing several months due to shoulder surgery. The team’s captaincy remains with Codie Taylor despite the absence of regular leaders like Ardie Savea and Richie Mo’unga.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
New Zealand's All Blacks announced their lineup for the first Bledisloe Cup rugby test against Australia scheduled for Saturday, adapting due to recent injuries. With both Ruben Love and Richie Mo’unga out of commission from ankle and calf injuries respectively, Damian McKenzie will start at flyhalf while Beauden Barrett remains at fullback. The team also includes Will Jordan and Leroy Carter on the wings as Caleb Clarke and Fehi Fineaganofo are unavailable due to shoulder and concussion issues. This lineup change follows New Zealand’s 3-1 series loss to South Africa in the World Cup champion's recent victory. Head coach Dave Rennie highlighted McKenzie and Barrett’s versatility, noting their ability to interchange between flyhalf and fullback roles effectively.
Written for “New Zealand Rugby Team Lineups” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Damian McKenzie will start at flyhalf with veteran Beauden Barrett at fullback as a spate of injuries has shaped the New Zealand All Blacks lineup to face Australia on Saturday in the first rugby test of Bledisloe Cup series.
asserted
spate → start → series
Ruben Love already had been ruled out for the season with an ankle injury when Richie Mo’unga injured a calf muscle at training on Tuesday, leaving McKenzie and Barrett — both preferred as fullbacks — to share the playmaker roles in the wake of New Zealand’s 3-1 series loss to World Cup champion South Africa.
“Damian’s trained a lot (at flyhalf) for us.
asserted
Damian → rule → us
Beauden’s predominantly trained at 15 when we’re in Africa,“ head coach Dave Rennie said.
asserted
Rennie → train → Africa
“I think both those players are interchangeable.
asserted
players → think → ?
They both spend a lot of time in the backfield.
asserted
They → spend → backfield
The way we play, having a 15 who is a real playmaker suits.
asserted
who → play → 15
“We could have played them the other way around but they’ll both end up in playmaker roles and they’ll both end up in the backfield.”
uncertain
they → play → backfield
With Caleb Clarke unavailable with a shoulder injury and Fehi Fineaganofo sidelined with concussion, Will Jordan and Leroy Carter will start on the wings.
asserted
Jordan → sideline → wings
Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea will combine in midfield in the absence of Billy Proctor and Anton Lienert-Brown, who also have injuries.
asserted
who → combine → injuries
The backrow is unchanged by injuries to captain Ardie Savea, who is out of action for several months after shoulder surgery, and Luke Jacobson, who has an elbow injury.
asserted
who → have → injury
Tupou Vaa’i returns from lock to the blindside flank, while Peter Lakai moves to the openside and Wallace Sititi to No. 8.
asserted
Lakai → return → .
The All Blacks have been disadvantaged all season by the lack of a specialist No. 7.
asserted
Blacks → disadvantage → .
Former captain Scott Barrett will make his first test appearance of the season, returning at lock, as the three Barrett brothers start together for the first time this year.
asserted
brothers → make → time
Hooker Codie Taylor retains the captaincy.
asserted
Taylor → retain → captaincy
The All Blacks already appeared hard-pressed to defend their 40-year unbeaten record against Australia at Eden Park before injuries to Mo’unga, Fineanganofo, Love, Patrick Tuipulotu, Savea, Jacobson, Lienert-Brown, Proctor, Clarke and prop Ollie Norris made their task much harder.
asserted
task → appear → Mo’unga
In three consecutive losses to South Africa in the Greatest Rivalry series, the All Blacks have struggled to perform skills under high pressure as they try to establish a high-tempo style.
asserted
they → struggle → style
Their inability to compete in the air is an area likely to be targeted by the Wallabies, who excelled in that area in a recent win over the Springboks.
asserted
who → compete → Springboks
For Australia, Isaac Henry will start at center in place of Hunter Paisami who is suspended in the only change to the Wallabies starting lineup for the match.
asserted
who → start → match
Paisami will combine in midfield with Len Ikitau.
asserted
Paisami → combine → Ikitau
Among a number of changes on a 5-3 bench, prop Massimo De Lutiis replaces Taniela Tupou who has rejoined his French club.
asserted
who → replace → club
Lachlan Shaw will make his first Bledisloe Cup appearance as a replacement alongside Nick Champion de Crespigny who is named on the bench for only his second match of the year.
asserted
who → make → year
Declan Meredith will cover flyhalf and fullback.
asserted
Meredith → cover → flyhalf
“Keeping consistency in the starting side gives us a solid foundation, while adding some freshness on the bench will provide energy late in the game,” head coach Les Kiss said.
asserted
Kiss → keep → game
“There aren’t many tougher challenges than playing New Zealand at Eden Park, but it’s one we’re excited by and know that we will need to be at our best in all aspects of our game.”
asserted
we → be → game
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