Jack Goodhue to start for All Blacks

Jack Goodhue and Waisake Naholo will start for the All Blacks when they take on the Wallabies in their Rugby Championship opener in Sydney on Saturday.

It will be just a second cap for Goodhue, who started in the third Test against France in the June internationals. Meanwhile, Naholo lines up on the right wing, with Nehe Milner-Skudder a recent withdrawal from the squad.

Otherwise, it is business as usual with Kieran Read captaining a side that boasts plenty of experience. Ben Smith is at full-back, with Rieko Ioane on the opposite wing to Ioane. Goodhue partners Ryan Crotty in midfield, while Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith form the halfback combination.

Liam Squire is at blindside with Sam Cane at openside and Kieran Read at number eight. Sam Whitelock is reunited with Brodie Retallick in the second row, while Owen Franks, Joe Moody and Cody Taylor make up the front row.

[playbuzz-item item=”3061d527-9eae-4943-88f3-9a6a8031f098″ info=”false” shares=”false” wp-pb-id=”489029″]

New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown

Date: Saturday, August 18
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 19:45 local (09:45 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Luke Pearce (England)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)