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Wallabies to face same All Blacks as in rugby union test

Eddie Jones' Wallabies will face the identical All Black team that beat them 52-16 in Sydney three weeks ago in the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup rugby union test at Auckland on Saturday.

Jones' New Zealand opposite John Mitchell yesterday named the run-on 15 which trounced Australia by a record score at Stadium Australia for a match that marks the All Blacks' test centenary.

Mitchell has made four changes, all among the forwards, from the team which beat South Africa 19-11 at Dunedin last weekend to clinch the Tri-Nations title.

He has reinstalled the front row which played in the Sydney test, recalled rugged lock Chris Jack and restored tearaway flanker Ritchie McCaw.

Meanwhile, Jones has made one injury-enforced change to his team for the match, recalling veteran prop Glenn Panoho in place of Patricio Noriega who has a groin strain.

Panoho's promotion from the reserves bench comes although he is also reported to be struggling with a leg injury. His place on the Wallaby bench has been taken by the uncapped New South Wales prop Alistair Baxter.

Jones has named No. 8 Toutai Kefu in his staring lineup, though the bullocking loose-forward remains in doubt because of neck and calf injuries. Kefu will be given until Saturday to prove his fitness.

The changes made by Mitchell yesterday appear to restore his strongest lineup.

His backline is unchanged and the return of McCaw, Jack and the front row of Greg Somerville, Keven Mealamu and Dave Hewett reunite the All Blacks' No. 1 pack.

"We're not so much rewarding the guys who played in Sydney, we just believe this is the right 22 to play against Australia," Mitchell said.
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