Australia v New Zealand:Australia were the last team to beat New Zealand but anything but a 17th straight victory for the All Blacks in Brisbane today would be a shock.
The Australia camp has been ravaged by a catalogue of injuries and distracted by malcontent outhalf Quade Cooper’s allegations of a “toxic atmosphere” surrounding the squad.
The Lang Park Test is the third and final encounter of this year’s Bledisloe Cup series but it was rendered a dead rubber by comprehensive back-to-back victories for the All Blacks in the opening two matches of the inaugural Rugby Championship.
AUSTRALIA: M Harris; N Cummins, B Tapuai, P McCabe, A Ashley-Cooper; K Beale, N Phipps; B Robinson, T Polota Nau, J Slipper; S Timani, N Sharpe; S Higginbotham, M Hooper, W Palu. Replacements: J Hanson, S Kepu, K Douglas, D Dennis, L Gill, B Sheehan, D Mitchell.
NEW ZEALAND: I Dagg; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, H Gear; D Carter, A Smith; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, C Faumuina; B Retallick, S Whitelock; L Messam, R McCaw, K Read. Replacements: A Hore, O Franks, L Romano, V Vito, P Weepu, A Cruden, B Smith.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa).
