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1h ago

Teams Reshuffled for Bledisloe II After Eden Park Injuries

Selections reflect injury-driven recovery priorities with bench rotation and tactical tweaks for the run of Tests.

Cricket - The Ashes - Australia v England - First Test - Perth Stadium, Perth, Australia - November 21, 2025 Australia head coach Andrew McDonald during the warm up before the start of day's play REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/ File Photo
South Africa's Tristan Stubbs walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal on day four of the first Test match between South Africa and Australia.
Kagiso Rabada is set to return for South Africa in the second Test against Australia.
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Overview

  • Teams confirmed on Thursday that squads for Saturday’s second Bledisloe Test in Sydney include multiple late changes driven by injuries from last weekend’s 50-19 Eden Park match.
  • New Zealand made three starting XV changes and eight changes overall, keeping Damian McKenzie at 10 and shifting several injured forwards and a winger to replacements to preserve player workload.
  • Australia were forced into a late reshuffle after Ben Donaldson was ruled out with a leg injury and Declan Meredith was named to start at fly-half with uncapped Harry McLaughlin-Phillips on the bench poised for a potential debut.
  • Wallabies coach Les Kiss moved star prop Angus Bell to the bench to add second-half impact, promoted Aidan Ross to start at loosehead, and recalled forwards Josh Canham, Carlo Tizzano and Billy Pollard to beef up the replacements.
  • Carter Gordon’s availability remains a developing story with a fitness test due in the next 48 hours, and the overall selections underline both sides’ focus on concussion protocols, recovery and building depth ahead of November and Nations fixtures.