Tri-Nations: New Zealand vs Australia - Line-ups

New Zealand vs Australia
2011 Tri-Nations
Saturday, August 6
Eden Park, Auckland

New Zealand and Australia face off

Australia coach Robbie Deans has made no changes to the Wallaby starting XV that beat South Africa 39-20 two weeks ago for this crucial Tri-Nations encounter. However the reserves bench has seen a few changes. Experienced lock Nathan Sharpe is replaced by Dan Vickerman while in the scrumhalf position Nick Phipps is replaced by Luke Burgess who is returning from injury. Back Lachie Turner also makes the match 22 replacing flanker Matt Hodgson.

The All Blacks meanwhile have made a host of changes from the side that ran out last time out in a 40-7 thumping of the Springboks. Hooker Keven Mealamu starts with Andrew Hore moving to bench and Cory Flynn dropping out of the match 22 altogether. Owen Franks will start, relegating his brother Ben to the bench. At lock Brad Thorn returns in favour of Sam Whitelock while his Crusaders teammate Kieran Read also comes into the starting XV.

At scrumhalf Piri Weepu starts while wingers Hosea Gear and Sitiveni Sivivatu also return to form a formidable All Blacks starting XV. Indeed tomorrow’s team will be the most experienced New Zealand side in history with a record 766 caps in total.

Starting Line-ups
Position	All Blacks	Wallabies
1	Wyatt Crockett	Sekope Kepu
2	Keven Mealamu	Stephen Moore
3	Owen Franks	Ben Alexander
4	Ali Williams	Rob Simmons
5	Brad Thorn	James Horwill
6	Jerome Kaino	Rocky Elsom ©
7	Richie McCaw ©	David Pocock
8	Kieran Read	Ben McCalman
9	Piri Weepu	Will Genia
10	Dan Carter	Quade Cooper
11	Hosea Gear	Digby Ioane
12	Ma’a Nonu	Pat McCabe
13	Conrad Smith	Adam Ashley-Cooper
14	Sitiveni Sivivatu	James O’Connor
15	Mils Muliaina	Kurtley Beale
Replacements
16	Andrew Hore	Saia Fainga’a
17	Ben Franks	Pekahou Cowan
18	Sam Whitelock	Dan Vickerman
19	Adam Thomson	Scott Higginbotham
20	Andy Ellis	Luke Burgess
21	Colin Slade	Anthony Fainga’a
22	Sonny Bill Williams	Lachie Turner