Match Day Programme: Australia vs. New Zealand - Bledisloe Cup 2

August 03, 2023
949
Ultimate Rugby

After a blow out performance last week in Melbourne, New Zealand tackle Australia on home ground in an international friendly. The short format of the Rugby Championship competition concluded as well last week, and see's the All Blacks go into today's fixture crowned as Southern Hemisphere Champions. Thank you for joining us, this is Ultimate Rugby Match Day.

Fixture: New Zealand vs. Australia

Venue: Forsyth Barr, Dunedin, New Zealand

Kickoff Time: 14:35 (Local), 02:35 (GMT)

Referee: Karl Dickson

Head-to-head Played:

Played: 176

Australia Wins: 45

New Zealand Wins: 123

Draws: 8

Points for:

Australia: 2,541

New Zealand: 3,905

Biggest winning margin:

Australia 21 (17 June, 2000)

New Zealand 37 (13 August, 2022)

Last Meeting: 28 July 2023 - New Zealand 38-7 Australia Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia

2023 Rugby Championship Results

Australia

L 38-7 (h) v New Zealand

L 43-12 (a) v South Africa

L 32-34 (h) v Argentina

New Zealand

W 38-7 (h) v Australia

W 12-41 (a) v Argentina

W 35-20 (a) v South Africa

Team News:

New Zealand: Three players are in line to make their international debut. Flanker Samipeni Finau and wing Shaun Stevenson have been named in the run-on side while midfielder Dallas McLeod is set to earn his first cap from the reserves bench.

Australia: Eddie Jones has confirmed scrumhalf Tate McDermott will skipper the Wallabies today, while the absence of prop Alaalatoa will see Rebels prop Pone Fa'amausili start for the first time at Test level. Fa'amausili joins Angus Bell and Dave Porecki in the front row as Zane Nonggorr comes onto the bench for his second cap, with Taniela Tupou (ribs) ruled out.

After making his debut from the bench against South Africa in Auckland, Tamaiti Williams starts alongside Samisoni Taukei’aho and Nepo Laulala in the front row.

Pairing up for the first time this year, Retallick and Whitelock are set to extend their world record of 64 Tests as a starting lock combination.

James Slipper will equal Adam Ashley-Cooper’s record of 32 Tests against New Zealand as the finishing loosehead, joined by Jordan Uelese and Rob Leota.