Brief
Wallabies name debutant Meredith as fly‑half for Bledisloe Cup test
Injury woes force changes for Australia and New Zealand ahead of the Bledisloe Cup match at Accor Stadium.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Australia will field Declan Meredith at fly‑half against New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup test at Sydney's Accor Stadium, according to Wallabies head coach Les Kiss.
What happened
Les Kiss announced his match‑day squad on the morning of Oct 17, naming Meredith as the starting fly‑half. Both Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson are unavailable due to leg injuries, while Len Ikitau remains out with a concussion. The Wallabies also adjust the backline after the suspension of Hunter Paisami, moving Joseph‑Aukuso Suaalii back into the centres alongside Isaac Henry. Harry Potter takes the left wing, with Filipo Daugunu on the bench. Former All Blacks prop Aidan Ross starts in the front row, replacing Angus Bell, who moves to the replacements. Hooker Josh Nasser steps up from the bench, backed by Billy Pollard, and Brandon Paenga‑Amosa is omitted. Forwards Josh Canham and Carlo Tizzano join the squad, and Kalani Thomas is retained as a backup to Ryan Lonergan, while Tate McDermott is dropped.
What the reports add
The Guardian notes that New Zealand coach Dave Rennie made three changes earlier in the week, bringing in Fabian Holland at lock, George Bower at loosehead prop and promoting Josh Moorby to cover for injured winger Leroy Carter. On match day, Rennie was forced to withdraw Jordie Barrett after a calf complaint, replacing him with Timoti Tavatavanawai. Richie Mo’unga remains unavailable with a calf injury, leaving Damian McKenzie at No 10 and Beauden Barrett at fullback, though Barrett will join the build‑up frequently.
What was said
Renn said, “The Wallabies are a proud side and they’ll be hurting after last week. It’s a great challenge for us to now face them in front of their home crowd in Sydney,” as reported by The Guardian.
How it came about
In the days leading up to the test, the Wallabies dealt with a spate of injuries that reshaped their backline, prompting Kiss to promote Meredith and adjust centre combinations. New Zealand also faced injury disruptions, notably the loss of Jordie Barrett on the day of the match, which forced Rennie to reshuffle his back three.
Key facts
- Declan Meredith will start at fly‑half for the Wallabies (theguardian.com)
- Ben Donaldson and Carter Gordon are out with leg injuries (theguardian.com)
- Len Ikitau remains unavailable due to concussion (theguardian.com)
- New Zealand coach Dave Rennie made three changes to his starting side earlier in the week (theguardian.com)
- Jordie Barrett withdrew on match day with a calf complaint (theguardian.com)
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “Australia v New Zealand: Bledisloe Cup rugby union international – live”
