Payto’s view
The teams are almost out
The stadium is filing up nicely, the sun is shining and there is a big smattering on gold in the stands. If only the Wallabies didn’t have to play the All Blacks it would be the perfect day in Sydney.
There are reasons for optimism, the Wallabies will be fired up not only to mark James Slipper’s milestone but also to restore some much needed confidence in the game in this country.
A huge tall order, given the All Blacks are stung and angry after criticism at home due to two successive Test defeats against South Africa.
We will soon find out how this Wallabies side will respond..
James Slipper ahead of the All Blacks gameCredit: Getty Images
Joe Schmidt v Razor
This is an intriguing battle tactically between two coaches facing enormous respective challenges.
Robertson long coveted the top job with the All Blacks and now he has it, he needs to start not only winning against the Wallabies, but winning well. The expectations of the All Blacks coach are some of the heaviest in the world and he is facing scrutiny after two defeats in South Africa and a shock win from Argentina in Wellington.
Schmidt has a little more house money to play with than his Kiwi counterpart, after inheriting a bin fire from former coach Eddie Jones. There were tight two wins against a weak Wales team and victory against Georgia in July perhaps provided too much of a false dawn.
Reality bit the Wallabies hard with two defeats against the Springboks and then a hard-earned victory in La Plata against Argentina and the hammering in Santa Fe undid so much for the meticulous tactical work Schmidt had done.
The All Blacks are a team Schmidt knows implicitly given his stint as assistant coach during the World Cup, which could give the Wallabies a little bit more of hope than they would normally have.
Joe Schmidt during Wallabies captain’s runCredit: Getty Images
All Blacks team – Beauden Barrett is out with illness, Will Jordan moves to fullback
The All Blacks it appears are suffering a crisis of confidence, but that I mean that they have beaten twice by the world champions South Africa and by Argentina in Wellington.
Despite some minor teething problems, which is the context of the Australian rugby fan are luxuries, the All Blacks side to face the Wallabies is still extremely strong.
Loosehead prop Ethan de Groot is back and will make Taniela Tupou work extremely hard in the scrum for however long he is on.
The unfairly maligned Damian McKenzie has been trusted once again with the number 10 jersey and the backrow combination of veteran Sam Cane and Wallace Sititi will give Wallabies breakaway Fraser McReight a huge workload on his return to the gold jersey.
The bench is ominous for the Wallabies, particularly with the front row of Asafo Aumua at hooker and props Tamaiti Williams and Pasilio Tosi ready to come on.
There is a late change to the team below- Beauden Barrett is out with illness, meaning Will Jordan moves to fullback, Sevu Reece comes on to the wing, and Harry Plummer prepares to make his test debut off the bench.
Can the Wallabies upset the odds?
Golden Slipper
James Slipper will play in his 140th Test against the All Blacks today in Sydney and my colleague Iain Payten did a great piece with the man of the moment here, photographed with the great George Gregan ahead of the game.
Slipper will pass George Gregan’s record for most Wallabies games todayCredit: James Brickwood
