Rugby Championship: Australia vs New Zealand LIVE scores

Australia vs New Zealand LIVE scores: The All Blacks are in Melbourne for the first Bledisloe Cup Test of 2023 and their final contest in the Rugby Championship.

South African fans will be hoping for a Wallaby win that would set the Springboks up for a tilt at the championship later in the day.

Australia vs New Zealand LIVE scores

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Australia vs New Zealand: preview

The youthful flyhalf Carter Gordon has a difficult assignment ahead of him. The playmaker replaces veteran Quade Cooper at No 10 and makes his first Wallabies start.  

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Tate McDermott, another guy eager to put on a fantastic display, will be Gordon’s halfback partner. With Samu Kerevi joining Jordan Petaia at outside centre following a protracted injury layoff, the midfield is another dynamic pairing. Prop Angus Bell starts in front of co-captain James Slipper in the pack. Bell teams up with tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa, hooker David Porecki to front the pack. The front row must control the scrums if Australia are to have any chance at all. Since he performed admirably in the last two Test matches, Will Skelton will once more be counted on for his physicality all around the park.

The All Blacks

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In Sam Cane’s absence because of injury, Ardie Savea, who has been in outstanding form, will take charge of the team. 

Savea, who is skippering the All Blacks for the sixth time, will be hoping that the position doesn’t detract from his dependable performance at No 8. Dalton Papali’i, another tough guy who never backs down from a confrontation, enters at the openside flank. With playmaker Beauden Barrett at fullback, the backline appears to be incredibly devastating, and Will Jordan will be looking to build on his man-of-the-match performance against the Springboks. In what would be his first Test appearance in eight months, experienced lock Sam Whitelock is set to earn his 144th cap off the bench.

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Teams

Australia: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Tom Hooper, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.

Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Nic White, 22 Quade Cooper, 23 Izaia Perese.

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.

Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Caleb Clarke.

Date: Saturday, July 29

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Kick-off: 11:45

Expected weather: Partly sunny with a high of 18°C and a low 10°C

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Christophe Ridley (England)

TMO: Tom Foley (England)