The Wallabies face the All Blacks in a Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park, seeking their first victory there since 1986. The match features notable roster changes for both teams: the All Blacks move Damian McKenzie to fly-half and deploy three Barrett brothers—Beauden, Scott, and Jordie—in key positions. For the Wallabies, Isaac Henry replaces Hunter Paisami at outside center due to suspension.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Wallabies face the All Blacks in a Bledisloe Cup Test match at Eden Park in Auckland, aiming to end a 40-year losing streak since their last victory there in 1986. The match is part of an unusual October schedule due to the Greatest Rivalry tour between South Africa and New Zealand, which disrupted the usual Rugby Championship timing. Notable past moments include Topo Rodríguez's defensive play against Hika Reid and David Campese's decisive try scoring. Despite missing key players like Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper, the Wallabies are optimistic but recognize they may need a strong start to maintain momentum when substitutions occur later in the game.
Written for “Australia New Zealand Rugby Match” on 2026-10-10,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
The Wallabies are quietly confident they can win their first Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park since 1986, as they take on the All Blacks.
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they → win → Blacks
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High hopes for Wallabies
This is the Wallabies best chance in many years.
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This → submit → years
If they can’t break the hoodoo with this team then heaven knows when.
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heaven → break → team
For those old enough, who can remember the last time the Wallabies beat the All Blacks at Eden Park in 1986?
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Wallabies → remember → 1986
Moments that stick out for me (yes, I'm that old) include:
- Andrew Leeds scoring a try on debut, with legendary ABC Sport commentator Gordon Bray saying: "I think his father has just gone through the roof, his mother has just dropped her knitting!"
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mother → stick → knitting
- Topo Rodríguez stopping an All Blacks try, when he picked up Hika Reid and drove him into the turf only a metre out from the Wallabies line
- David Campese slicing through the All Blacks' defence to ice what would be a 22-9 victory
- Andrew Slack being presented the Bledisloe Cip while wearing an All Blacks jersey
What a day for Aussie rugby!
How the All Blacks looking?
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Blacks → stop → rugby
With Ruben Love and Richie Mo'unga sidelined, the All Blacks named Damian McKenzie at fly half.
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Blacks → sideline → half
McKenzie shifts from fullback to fly half, allowing Beauden Barrett to start at 15.
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Barrett → shift → 15
It's an indication of the enormous depth All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has at his disposal.
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Rennie → have → disposal
All three Barrett brothers will start against the Wallabies, with ex-captain Scott named at lock and Jordie slotting in the backline at inside centre.
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Jordie → start → centre
The All Blacks were forced to make changes elsewhere as they play for the first time since losing 3-1 to the Springboks in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry.
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they → force → Rivalry
The All Blacks' 23 is as follows:
15. Beauden Barrett
14. Will Jordan
13. Quinn Tupaea
12. Jordie Barrett
11. Leroy Carter
10. Damian McKenzie
9. Cam Roigard
8. Wallace Sititi
7.
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23 → follow → Roigard
21. Kyle Preston
22. Rieko Ioane
23. Josh Moorby
Who's playing for the Wallabies?
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Who → play → Wallabies
The Wallabies have only made one forced change to their starting XV in the wake of their 42-38 victory over the Springboks in Perth a fortnight ago.
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Wallabies → make → Perth
Reds centre Isaac Henry will start at outside centre following Hunter Paisami's suspension.
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Henry → start → suspension
Len Ikitau, who starred in his preferred position at 13 against the Boks, will play inside centre.
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who → star → centre
Ikitau (ankle) was under an injury cloud but was passed fit for tonight's match.
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Ikitau → pass → match
Wallabies coach Les Kiss chose not to move Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii back to the centres, instead keeping him on the wing.
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Kiss → choose → wing
The Wallabies' match-day squad is as follows:
15.
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squad → follow → ?
I'm Luke Pentony and it's great to have you on board.
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it → have → board
What a match we have ahead of us …
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we → have → us
In the blue corner, the All Blacks have won their past 11 Tests against the Wallabies.
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Blacks → win → Wallabies
The All Blacks' last defeat to their trans-Tasman rival at Eden Park came in 1986, while they haven't been beaten at their spiritual home by any side since 1994.
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they → come → 1994
The All Blacks have also held the Bledisloe Cup for the past 23 years.
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Blacks → hold → years
In the red corner, the Wallabies are in a confident mood, having dispensed of the world champion Springboks in their last start.
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Wallabies → dispense → start
They are unbeaten in their last six Tests and there's a feeling among their long-suffering fans they're about to snap their Eden Park drought.
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they → be → drought
It's not the first time the Wallabies have run onto Eden Park in a buoyant mood, only to depart with their tails between their legs.
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Wallabies → run → legs
Is tonight the moment that all changes for the Wallabies?
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that → change → Wallabies
We'll find out soon enough!
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We → find → ?
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