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FILE | New Zealand’s Scott Barrett brings the ball down during a lineout in their Rugby World Cup third-place playoff against Wales.
New Zealand captain Scott Barrett has been ruled out of the Rugby Championship test against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday in one of four changes to the starting 15 from the record defeat by South Africa.
Coach Scott Robertson said Barrett had played with a shoulder injury in the 43-10 loss to the Springboks at Wellington, the heaviest test defeat in the nation’s history.
“He thought it might have been right to get through this weekend, but it’s clearly not,” Robertson told a press conference on Thursday.
Loose forward Ardie Savea will lead the team three weeks after playing a big part in the All Blacks’ 24-17 win over the Springboks at Eden Park, where he celebrated his 100th test.
The hosts’ stunning capitulation in Wellington, where they conceded 36 unanswered points after half-time, shocked home fans and left some demanding wholesale changes to the team.
But barring a shake-up of his bench, Robertson has backed most of his players to redeem themselves at their Auckland stronghold, where they have been unbeaten in the last 51 matches dating back to 1994.
“We believe a lot of the combinations and the cohesion of a group that won a few weeks ago here, it’s really important for us to keep that connection,” he said.
“They won a title fight together and it’s their opportunity to go and do it again this weekend.”
Veteran hooker Codie Taylor was part of that “title fight” and has been recalled to the front row after missing Wellington with a concussion.
Seasoned lock Patrick Tuipulotu has recovered from a facial fracture and takes a spot on the bench, while Robertson’s preferred scrumhalf Cameron Roigard will take the number nine shirt from the injured Noah Hotham.
Both Tuipulotu and Roigard make their first appearances in this year’s Rugby Championship, while Caleb Clarke will play his first test of the season on the left wing after recovering from a high ankle problem.
“He’s got a great skillset, doesn’t he?” Robertson said of Clarke. “Aerially and a left-foot kick, good power winger.”
With rookie Leroy Carter shifting to the right wing and Will Jordan reverting to fullback, playmaker Damian McKenzie has been demoted to the bench in place of the dropped Ruben Love.
