Off-field distractions are overshadowing the build-up to Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash in Brisbane with the Wallabies in a state of chaos and the All Blacks exiling a key playmaker.
Two months ago Australia were good enough to hold New Zealand to a 12-all draw but it will be a big ask for them to match that effort following losses to South Africa and Argentina in their last two matches and a team unity meltdown.
Kurtley Beale is in disgrace over a text scandal and coach Ewen McKenzie is under pressure for a worsening win-loss record.
The players have rallied around Beale but are said to be divided in their support for McKenzie.
All is not smooth in the All Blacks camp either. Disgraced fly-half Aaron Cruden, the heir apparent to Dan Carter, served a two-match suspension for missing a flight to Argentina after excessive drinking only to find he is still not wanted.
Although the fixture is listed as a Bledisloe Cup match, the All Blacks already have that locked away for another year after thrashing Australia 51-20 in the second Test of the three-match series.
But All Blacks coach Steve Hansen rejects any suggestion there is nothing at stake.
“Anyone who has played sport will know there’s no such thing as a dead rubber. Your pride doesn’t allow that for a start. You’re playing for your country,” he said.
His side will face a Wallaby team seemingly in a shambles.
A year out from the World Cup in England, the Australian Rugby Union is reportedly courting NSW Waratahs mentor Michael Cheika and former Springboks coach Jake White as possible replacements for McKenzie.
Even if the unsourced reports are without foundation, they will do little to boost the Wallabies’ morale.
The question facing them at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday is whether they can put that behind them to produce an heroic effort to honour the occasion of vice-captain Adam Ashley-Cooper’s 100th Test.
New Zealand have their problems with Hansen starting his third-string playmaker Beauden Barrett with the fourth-best Colin Slade on the bench as Carter continues a lengthy rehabilitation and Cruden still in exile.
The All Blacks also have performance-related issues following their 27-25 loss to South Africa two weeks ago.
“There were some aspects of our game in the loss to South Africa that we weren’t happy with and we have worked hard on addressing those this week,” Hansen said in announcing the Test team, while making no reference to why Cruden was not wanted.
The Springboks exposed defensive frailties around the ruck while further out, there were periods of indecision as veteran centre Conrad Smith attempted to guide his rookie inside Malakai Fekitoa.
The All Blacks were “just too slow and made too many errors. We had a pretty stern (post-match) review and I know the boys are on edge for this week, for sure,” fullback Israel Dagg said while playing down the turmoil in the Wallaby ranks.
“I don’t really know much about it to be honest, but it must be tough for them as a team to be able to focus on this game. We know they’re a quality side though, so I know they’re going to get through this.”
The All Blacks have made five changes from that Test with Dane Coles and Wyatt Crockett returning to the front row, lock Brodie Retallick is back from injury, Liam Messam starts at blindside flanker and Cory Jane replaces wing Ben Smith.
McKenzie has made two changes to the Australian starting line-up with Christian Leali’ifano called up at inside centre and Rob Simmons returning at lock.
Quade Cooper, who has not played for Australia this year after suffering a shoulder injury in May, will make his return to Test rugby from the bench.
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