Wallabies’ Bledisloe Cup team news: Bernard Foley to partner Jake Gordon against New Zealand
As Bernard Foley begins his All Blacks revenge tour, the recalled veteran has been tasked with shutting down New Zealand’s revamped style.
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Wallabies coach Dave Rennie expects to confront a kick-heavy All Blacks side on Thursday as they evolve under new assistant coach Joe Schmidt.
While the Kiwis have often been the envy of the rugby world for their scintillating attack, a string of shock losses this year has prompted Schmidt’s elevation to full-time assistant under head coach Ian Foster, and a changing style of play.
While the All Blacks hammered Argentina 53-3 in their previous match, one week after losing to the Pumas for the first time on home soil, Rennie sees the influence of former Ireland head coach Schmidt in their play.
“The All Blacks definitely kicked a lot more last week, I think maybe Joe Schmidt’s influence, they carried a lot more off No.9, and were a lot more direct, earning the right to play to width,” Rennie said.
“So we’d expect something similar this weekend.”
New Zealand Rugby held a review into the coaching structure of the All Blacks following their home series loss to Ireland in June, followed by a first up defeat to South Africa in The Rugby Championship opener.
But after they won the second match in Johannesburg, Foster was retained as head coach until the end of the 2023 World Cup, while Schmidt was moved from a part-time role to full-time assistant.
Should the All Blacks continue to take a kick-first policy into the clash at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, new Wallabies halves Jake Gordon and Bernard Foley will need to produce their best form to control the pace and tempo of the game.
Gordon has replaced Nic White as the starting halfback after Australia’s 24-8 loss to the Springboks on September 3.
“Whitey wasn’t at his best last week, he’s started every Test this year and had a massive load, I thought Jake was excellent off the bench last week so he gets a deserved chance to start,” Rennie said.
Meanwhile, 33-year-old Foley gets his chance for Bledisloe revenge three years after his last game for Australia in the 2019 World Cup, handed the No.10 jersey after Noah Lolesio suffered concussion symptoms and James O’Connor injured his leg in club rugby.
Foley has just three wins from 15 Tests against the All Blacks, including the 2015 World Cup final loss.
“You definitely look at the games, we had some great battles, had a great couple of wins and a few narrow losses that probably really sting,” Foley said.
“That’s just part of the journey, really enjoying the journey for what it was.
“You always wish you get one more crack, one more taste. So for me to be back here is just making the most of it.”
Foley was part of a number of Wallabies stars who left after the dysfunctional 2019 World Cup campaign.
“Last time there was a lot going on, and [we were] trying to please a lot of people and doing it for some of the right reasons, and some for the wrong,” Foley said.
“For now, just being back here and really taking it day by day, getting around the lads and really appreciating each day.”
Foley, who has been playing Japanese club rugby for the past three years, believes the Wallabies – ranked a record low eighth in the world – have a bright future.
“I think they’re fearless, there’s so much ability and potential with this group, a lot of them are just learning their ways and it’s great to be a part of,” Foley said.
The Wallabies and All Blacks have had inconsistent seasons so far, but Rennie is confident his side can win the first game and force a Bledisloe decider in Auckland the following weekend.
“Everything that’s happened prior to Thursday counts for little, it’s going to be our ability to perform at our best, we know we need to be at our best to have a chance against the All Blacks, and have a chance against anyone this year,” Rennie said.
“When we perform well we’re confident we can knock over anyone, but we’ve got to play at our best and force the All Blacks to be below their best.”
In all, there are eight changes from the team that was defeated comprehensively by South Africa a fortnight ago, including Andrew Kellaway starting at fullback with Reece Hodge on the bench, Dave Porecki replacing Folau Fainga’a as starting hooker, and prop Pone Fa’amausili replacing the injured Taniela Tupou on the bench.
TEAM NEWS: WALLABIES ROLL DICE IN SEARCH OF BLEDISLOE MIRACLE
A new halves and centre pairing will be used by Australia in the opening Bledisloe Cup match, with Jake Gordon and Bernard Foley trusted to guide the team to victory.
Gordon has unseated Nic White as starting halfback, while Foley returns for his first Test in three years at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Thursday night.
And Lalakai Foketi will play just his third Test, starting at inside centre after Hunter Paisami was ruled out.
Tighthead prop Taniela Tupou has also missed selection, he had been struggling with a calf complaint.
Pete Samu has replaced Fraser McReight as the starting openside flanker, going directly against All Blacks captain Sam Cane in the must-win match.
Rob Leota and Rob Valetini join Samu in an all Melbourne-born backrow, while Jed Holloway starts at lock alongside Matt Philip.
In all, there are eight changes from the team that was defeated comprehensively by South Africa a fortnight ago, including Andrew Kellaway starting at fullback with Reece Hodge on the bench, and Dave Porecki replacing Folau Fainga’a as starting hooker.
Captain James Slipper will become the third highest capped Wallaby, behind only George Gregan (139 Tests) and Stephen Moore (129) when he runs out for his 122nd international.
The All Blacks have named a monster pack, with Hoskins Sotutu named as starting No.8 in place of Ardie Savea, who will miss the match after deciding to remain in New Zealand for the birth of his third child.
Scott Barrett moves to blindside flanker, and experienced lock pairing Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock resume their partnership, while Akira Ioane and Dalton Papali’i have been named on the bench.
Three years after believing he’d worn the Wallabies jersey for the final time, Foley will be parachuted back into the key No.10 position to win back the Bledisloe Cup.
The 33-year-old playmaker will line up against the All Blacks for the 16th time, seeking just his third win.
Wallabies five-eighth Noah Lolesio, who started the previous two games against South Africa, has been ruled out of the match after suffering concussion symptoms, handing Foley an international revival.
Foley has not played for Australia since 2019, when the Wallabies were bundled out of the World Cup quarter-final by England. He’s been plying his trade in Japanese club rugby and had believed his Test career was done.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie had asked Foley to return last year but he didn’t feel ready.
However, he returned to the squad this year and with Australia attempting to reclaim the Bledisloe for the first time in 20 years, Foley has the keys to the car chosen to get them to that lofty destination.
It is only a two-match series, so if the Wallabies lose on Thursday New Zealand will retain the trophy yet again, rendering the second match at Auckland’s Eden Park on September 24 a dead rubber.
Foley, a veteran of 71 Tests, will be hoping to have a similar impact as Quade Cooper last year. Cooper was brought out of Text exile by Rennie and led the team to five successive wins upon his return.
Foley was nicknamed the Ice Man for his poise under pressure, particularly when he kicked the last-minute penalty to win the 2014 Super Rugby title for NSW against the Crusaders.
His return follows a column from his former halves partner, Will Genia, who said Lolesio needed to be held accountable after the team’s meek loss to the Springboks in Sydney a fortnight ago.
“From Noah’s perspective I genuinely back him. He’s a quality player and will continue to grow,” Genia wrote for The Roar website.
“But the nature of that defeat means people need to be held accountable.
“What you will get are one-on-one match-ups and you’ve got to be brave enough to identify that and take a gamble on it, rather than sit back and let the forwards carry, or shift the pressure to someone else and wait for a perfect picture to inject yourself in the game.”
Given Lolesio’s injury, Rennie was spared the decision of whether to drop the young playmaker yet again.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks are flying under the radar and took the opportunity to catch the AFL preliminary finals match between Melbourne and Brisbane at the MCG last weekend.
“It was cool understanding a different game,” fullback Jordie Barrett.
“It’s quite physical and they’ve got such high skill sets. It’s quite interesting to watch as an outside back who loves kicking and catching so I enjoyed it.
“It’s an interesting concept to grasp, a whole city that’s just so mad on one sport.
“It’s good to get a taste off that and get out in the environment and come back fresh today and prepare for the Australians.”
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Originally published as Wallabies’ Bledisloe Cup team news: Bernard Foley to partner Jake Gordon against New Zealand