Sam Cane Reaches 100 Tests as All Blacks Name side to Face Australia

All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson and his co-selectors, Assistant Coaches Scott Hansen, Jason Holland, Jason Ryan and Tamati Ellison have named their All Blacks team to play Australia in the final round of the 2024 Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship at Sky Stadium, Wellington.

LIVE on Sky Sport: Saturday 28 September:  All Blacks vs Australia, 7.05PM (NZST). Highlights available on NZR+ and All Blacks YouTube. 
 
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets) 
  
1.    Ethan de Groot (27)  
2.    Codie Taylor (92) (Vice Captain) 
3.    Tyrel Lomax (39)  
4.    Scott Barrett (75) (Captain) 
5.    Tupou Vaa’i (33)  
6.    Wallace Sititi (4)  
7.    Sam Cane (99)  
8.    Ardie Savea (89) (Vice Captain) 
9.     TJ Perenara (86)  
10.  Beauden Barrett (130)  
11.  Caleb Clarke (24)  
12.  Anton Lienert-Brown (78) 
13.  Rieko Ioane (76) 
14.  Sevu Reece (29)  
15.  Will Jordan (36) 
 
16. Asafo Aumua (13) 
17. Tamaiti Williams (13) 
18. Pasilio Tosi (2) 
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (45) 
20. Luke Jacobson (23)  
21.  Cortez Ratima (7)  
22.  Damian McKenzie (55) 
23.  David Havili (27) 

Unavailable due to injury: Jordie Barrett (knee), Fletcher Newell (calf), Ruben Love (quadricep). 

Loose forward Sam Cane will play his 100th All Blacks test in front of a sold-out crowd at Sky Stadium this Saturday night.  For both Cane and starting halfback TJ Perenara, this will also be the final test they will play in New Zealand before they begin their contracts in Japan in 2025. 

All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson said this knowledge is a huge motivator for the team on Saturday night. 

“This will be a particularly special night for Sam and TJ and the boys will put in a performance that honours their contribution to this team. Sam will be joining an exclusive club of All Black centurions, which is testament to his fortitude and work ethic.  As a Wellington man and the most-capped Hurricane of all time, we know that TJ is a crowd favourite in the capital and we look forward to him expressing himself on the field in front of friends and whānau at home.”  

The only change to the forwards that faced Australia in the first Bledisloe Cup test last weekend is on the bench, where Patrick Tuipulotu returns for his first test since playing England at Eden Park in mid-July. 

There are three changes to the back line that started against Australia last week. Perenara starts at halfback with Cortez Ratima providing cover; Beauden Barrett returns to start at first-five; and Anton Lienert-Brown will play 12.   

"Damian McKenzie can provide experienced cover at both first-five and fullback, as Beauden has previously, and it is great to bring David Havili in to complete the 23, providing strong depth across the back line. We are excited about the opportunity this week to put in a complete performance against the Wallabies in Wellington.” 

MATCH FACTS 

• Sam Cane will become the 13th All Black centurion, following in the footsteps of Sam Whitelock (153), Richie McCaw (148), Keven Mealamu (132), Beauden Barrett (130), Kieran Read (127), Aaron Smith (125), Tony Woodcock (118), Dan Carter (112), Brodie Retallick (109), Owen Franks (108), Ma'a Nonu (103) and Mils Muliana (100).
• Australia have only beaten the All Blacks once at Wellington’s Sky Stadium – the first time they played there in 2000. The teams drew 16-all the last time they played there in 2020.
• The first time the All Blacks played Australia in Wellington was on 6 September 1913 at Athletic Park. The All Blacks won 30-5.
• Beauden Barrett currently holds the records for most tries scored in a match against Australia (4 in 2018), most conversions (7 in 2017) and most points scored (30 in 2018).

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