Wallabies overhaul backline for All Blacks test, Slipper set for record

SYDNEY :Australia coach Joe Schmidt has made a raft of changes to his backline but just one tweak up front for Saturday’s Rugby Championship test against the All Blacks.
The Wallabies go into the match at Stadium Australia heavy underdogs on the back of a record 67-27 mauling at the hands of Argentina in Santa Fe two weeks ago.
“Hopefully we’ve built a little bit of confidence back but you can’t build confidence on porous foundations,” Schmidt told reporters on Thursday.
“I think we have to get a bit of a dose of reality first … so there was a little bit of reality at the start and then hopefully we get a bit of an upswing towards the end of the week and obviously on Saturday.”
The New Zealander has restored four players who missed the humbling in Santa Fe through injury.
Noah Lolesio returns at flyhalf in partnership with recalled scrumhalf Nic White, Tom Wright is back at fullback and Hunter Paisami will bring his powerful running back to the centres after recovering from a knee injury.
“Hunter is a really punchy player for us,” said Schmidt. “Hunter’s got good experience with Len Ikitau. So those two together, with Nic and Noah having combinations, does help with cohesion.”
In the pack, openside flanker Fraser McReight will play his first Rugby Championship test of the year after recovering from a broken hand.
That means no place in the side for Carlo Tizzano, who had made a fine start to his test career over the last four matches.
“Carlo’s been outstanding, absolutely outstanding,” Schmidt told reporters on Thursday.
“(But) I think Fraser was probably outstanding before that, so trying to find a place for both of them is something we did consider.”
Loosehead prop James Slipper will get his chance to surpass George Gregan and become Australia’s most capped player after being named as a replacement for what will be his 140th test.
Australia last held the Bledisloe Cup in 2002 and, after the Santa Fe pummelling, expectations are low that the Wallabies can wrest back the symbol of trans-Tasman Sea supremacy by beating the All Blacks on Saturday and again in Wellington next week.
“It’s a huge, huge motivator for us,” said Lolesio.
“Obviously, it’s been 22 years or something like that … We really want to put in the best result we can this Saturday.”
Team: 15-Tom Wright, 14-Andrew Kellaway, 13-Len Ikitau, 12-Hunter Paisami, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Noah Lolesio, 9-Nic White, 8-Harry Wilson, 7-Fraser McReight, 6-Rob Valetini, 5-Jeremy Williams, 4-Nick Frost, 3-Taniela Tupou, 2-Matt Faessler, 1-Angus Bell
Replacements: 16-Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17-James Slipper, 18-Allan Alaalatoa, 19-Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20-Langi Gleeson, 21-Tate McDermott, 22-Tom Lynagh, 23-Dylan Pietsch.