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Coach Les Kiss insists the Wallabies will take the fight to the finish line All black people at their long-standing Eden Park fortress, with the hosts boasting more than 1,000 Tests between the players selected to open the Bledisloe Cup series.
“It’s not just another game,” Kiss told reporters two days after the match, as the Wallabies chase a drought at the Garden. Australia last time beat theirs New Zealand rivals at Eden Park in 1986, but the current group rise to the challenge.
Harry Wilson led the Wallabies to a famous comeback victory over the Springboks 14 months ago as the Aussies snapped a 62-year-old frenzy at Johannesburg’s Emirates Airline Park. They are once again gearing up for an attempt at history, with a squad brimming with confidence ahead of the Test.
The Wallabies have almost 300 fewer Test caps than the All Blacks, with Allan Alaalatoa and Rob Valetini the most experienced players in the line, which has 625 caps between 15 starters.
Kiss remain unbeaten in the top spot, overseeing four wins and one draw. Dave Rennie has gone with an experienced All Blacks side, but the Wallabies rarely go ahead of “significant” competition across the ditch.
“It’s a big game, definitely,” Kiss said.
“They’re a team I’ve got a lot of respect for. I know our team has. We’re familiar with each other through Super and the proximity of neighbors and the big Test match that it is. Both counties, Bledisloe means a lot, so it’s significant.
“They’ve named a couple of centurions and they’ve got a lot of caps in their squad. That’s impressive and we’ll have to be good, that’s for sure, to come out and put something that can compete with that.”
145-Test utility Beauden Barrett has been named in the All Blacks starting side for the first time since the 2025 Autumn Nations Series 2015 Rugby World Cup the winner played just 10 minutes during the Test season, coming off the bench against the Springboks in Baltimore.
Ardie Savea and Luke Jacobson are among the loose forwards who are unavailable, with Codie Taylor taking on leading duties for the Test. Taylor and Barrett are the side’s two centurions, while another four of the 23 have played at least 80 Tests.
“This is a team that can step forward and see how close we can get,” Kiss said.
“When you look at that (All Blacks) team and what they put in there. Quinn (Tupaea) in the centres, he’s been the best center all year. Jordan is so electric. (Damian) McKenzie, Beaudy, Codie Taylor, it’s a tough team.
“We’re a team that’s ready to fight them and see where it goes. It’s going to be tough.”
