Injuries force Wallabies into No 10 change for second Bledisloe Test in Sydney

Australia have named Declan Meredith to start at flyhalf and uncapped Harry McLaughlin-Phillips among the replacements for Saturday’s second Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Sydney after injuries to their preferred No 10 options.

Les Kiss made the selection following last week’s 50-19 defeat in Auckland that ensured New Zealand would retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 24th straight year; Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson are unavailable with leg injuries, so Meredith gets the No 10 shirt and McLaughlin-Phillips is on the bench. An injury to Len Ikitau and the continuing suspension of Hunter Paisami have prompted Kiss to move Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii into the centres alongside Isaac Henry, with Harry Potter starting on the left wing and Filipo Daugunu covering the outside backs and centres from the bench.

In the front row Aidan Ross starts at loosehead with Angus Bell shifted to the replacements, while Josh Nasser has been promoted from the bench to start at hooker and Billy Pollard provides cover, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa omitted. Forwards Josh Canham and Carlo Tizzano have been added to the bench after the Wallabies faded badly in the second half at Eden Park last week.

Kalani Thomas is set to win his third cap as Ryan Lonergan’s back-up at scrum-half and Tate McDermott has been dropped from the matchday squad. The Wallabies have lost their last 12 meetings against New Zealand. "We got a clear picture last weekend of where we need ⁠to be better," Kiss said. "We’ve said all along ​we’ll continue to work ​hard and grow our game, ​and the squad has been impressive in the way they have prepared ​this week."

New Zealand coach Dave Rennie made three changes to his starting XV, bringing Fabian Holland in for Josh Lord at lock and replacing Ethan de Groot with George Bower at loosehead prop. Rennie also lost Anton Segner, Asafo Aumua and winger Leroy Carter to injuries and concussions sustained in last week’s 50-19 victory, prompting alterations to the matchday bench.

Josh Moorby has been promoted from the bench to replace Carter on the left wing, with hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, prop Xavier Numia, loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi, scrum-half Cortez Ratima and centre Timoci Tavatavanawai named among the replacements. Richie Mo’unga remains unavailable because of a calf injury, so Damian McKenzie again starts at No 10 after a fine game at Eden Park last week, Beauden Barrett starts at fullback and Ethan Blackadder is also unavailable due to injury. "The Wallabies are a proud side and they’ll be hurting after last week," Rennie said. "It’s a great challenge for us to now face them in ⁠front of their home crowd in Sydney."

Australia team: 15-Tom Wright, 14-Max ​Jorgensen, 13-Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12-Isaac Henry, 11-Harry Potter, 10-Declan Meredith, 9-Ryan Lonergan, 8-Harry Wilson (captain), 7-Fraser McReight, 6-Rob Valetini, 5-Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4-Jeremy Williams, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Josh Nasser, 1-Aidan Ross. Replacements: 16-Billy Pollard, 17-Angus Bell, 18-Massimo De Lutiis, 19-Josh Canham, 20-Carlo Tizzano, 21-Kalani Thomas, 22-Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23-Filipo Daugunu.

New Zealand team: 15-Beauden Barrett, 14-Will Jordan, 13-Quinn Tupaea, 12-Jordie Barrett, 11-Josh Moorby, 10-Damian ‌McKenzie, 9-Cam Roigard, 8-Wallace Sititi, 7-Peter Lakai, 6-Tupou Vaa’i, 5-Fabian Holland, 4-Scott Barrett, 3-Fletcher Newell, 2-Codie Taylor (captain), 1-George Bower. Replacements: 16-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17-Xavier Numia, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Shannon Frizell, 20-Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23-Rieko Ioane.

The two sides meet in the second Test of the Bledisloe Cup in Sydney on Saturday.