Here we go again.
asserted
we → go → ?
The Wallabies have another chance to beat the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday, and they are approaching the Test with plenty of confidence under new coach Les Kiss.
And with good reason.
asserted
they → have → reason
But how do the two teams match up on Saturday?
asserted
teams → match → Saturday
Here’s my player ratings.
asserted
ratings → ’ → ?
It is taking time for Wright to find his best form after an ACL injury, but it is slowly returning.
asserted
it → take → injury
At his best he’s world-class.
asserted
he → ’ → best
The brilliant 22-year-old is in great form and has a complete game.
asserted
old → have → game
His aerial ability came to the fore against the Springboks.
asserted
ability → come → Springboks
The Reds midfielder has made a promising start to his Test career and has the tools to kick on.
asserted
midfielder → make → tools
Win, lose or draw, Ikitau is always one of the Wallabies’ best.
asserted
Ikitau → win → best
Suaalii is a 7/10 as a midfielder but earns an extra point as a winger after his excellent display against the Springboks.
asserted
Suaalii → earn → Springboks
His Super Rugby performances have translated nicely into the Test arena and the Brumbies No.9 reads the game superbly.
asserted
No.9 → translate → game
Harry Wilson (c): Hard-working captain will post massive tackle and carry stats again, but he’ll also have to get on the right side of referee Andrew Brace.
asserted
he → work → Brace
The standout flanker might sniff an opportunity at the breakdown with All Blacks captain Ardie Savea injured.
uncertain
Savea → sniff → breakdown
Valetini is a powerhouse in a jersey where the All Blacks are still looking for answers.
asserted
Blacks → look → answers
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto: The huge second-rower muscled up well against the Springboks and has a crucial role to play against the All Blacks.
asserted
rower → muscle → Blacks
Jeremy Williams: Lineout technician will be put under pressure on Wallabies ball, but has developed into a classy operator.
asserted
technician → put → operator
One of the success stories for the Wallabies this year – he Force have done a great job with the hooker.
asserted
Force → do → hooker
A torrid battle up front awaits, but Wallabies should hold their own.
asserted
Wallabies → await → own
We haven’t quite seen the best of Bell with ball in hand this year, but Eden Park might be the place to flick the switch.
uncertain
Park → see → switch
Can the bench provide the impact needed without Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper?
asserted
bench → provide → Tupou
The 35-year-old has lost some speed but still reads the game well and has a history of hurting the Wallabies.
asserted
old → lose → Wallabies
Will Jordan: A try-scoring freak for the All Blacks, even if he does have the occasional struggle under the high ball.
asserted
he → score → ball
One of the best No.12s in Super Rugby, the hard-running Chief has made a seamless switch to the No.13 jersey.
asserted
Chief → run → jersey
The tall Hurricanes No.12 looms as arguably the Wallabies’ greatest enemy on Saturday.
asserted
No.12 → loom → Saturday
Damian McKenzie: When he’s good, he’s very good.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
But his off nights can put his own team under pressure and he hasn’t started in the All Blacks No.10 jersey this year.
asserted
he → put → jersey
Wallace Sititi: The 2024 World Rugby breakthrough player of the year hasn’t yet pushed on from that award and was something of a surprise selection ahead of Peter Lakai.
asserted
player → push → Lakai
Hard to mark because he’s an outstanding player but is he better suited to the No.8 jersey?
asserted
he → mark → jersey
7
. Tupou Vaa’i: He’s on record as saying he prefers the second row, although he still has the athleticism to run down the wide channels.
asserted
he → ’ → channels
The athletic Chief was surprisingly favoured over Fabian Holland, which shows how highly he is rated.
asserted
he → favour → Holland
World class at his peak, but the former captain has only played 90 minutes of provincial rugby this year so won’t be at his best.
asserted
captain → play → best
The All Blacks scrum was put through the wringer by the Springboks, but it improved in the fourth Test in Baltimore when Newell started.
asserted
Newell → put → Baltimore
Codie Taylor (c): Very much in the veteran class and the suspicion is that he starts due to his leadership qualities.
asserted
he → start → qualities
Ethan de Groot: Has built consistency and could be a problem for the Wallabies at scrum time.
uncertain
Groot → build → time
Aumua, Frizell and Segner could have big roles.
uncertain
Aumua → have → roles
The Aporia
