Australia vs New Zealand Preview & Prediction | 2024 Rugby Championship | Round 5
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After their embarrassing defeat to Argentina, Australia have it all to do if they are to avoid finishing bottom of the Rugby Championship table for the second year in a row.
START DATE/TIME: Saturday 21st September, 2024: UK – 6:45am / US ET – 1:45am / US PT – 10:45pm (Friday 20th September)
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – FloRugby
AUSTRALIA FORM: PICKING UP THE PIECES FROM RECORD-BREAKING DEFEAT
Australian rugby is at a real low point right now following the Wallabies’ humiliating thrashing at the hands of Argentina two weeks ago.
Their 67-27 defeat was the worst in their history as they conceded nine tries to a rampant Pumas side. The Aussies sit bottom of the Rugby Championship table ahead of the penultimate round of fixtures, and are looking odds-on for a second consecutive wooden spoon.
LAST FIVE: WLLWL
NEW ZEALAND FORM: CONSECUTIVE DEFEATS TO THE SPRINGBOKS
It’s hardly been a tournament to remember for New Zealand either, although their displays have not been as woeful as their opponents this weekend. Indeed, the All-Blacks even have a mathematical chance of winning the Rugby Championship, but it would take an extremely unlikely set of circumstances to bring that eventuality about.
Scott Robertson’s side come into this off the back of consecutive losses to runaway leaders South Africa, but there were certainly some positives to take from their two performances, as they ran the world champions close on both occasions.
LAST FIVE: WLWLL
AUSTRALIA TEAM NEWS: SLIPPER ON THE BENCH
SQUAD: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 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
NEW ZEALAND TEAM NEWS: DE ROOT AND CLARKE NAMED IN THE SQUAD
SQUAD: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa'i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Sevu Reece
AUSTRALIA VS NEW ZEALAND PREDICTION
Although it has been clear throughout this year’s Rugby Championship that Australia are a team in transition under Joe Schmidt, nobody could have predicted the manner of their 40-point defeat to Argentina last time out. Serious questions are now being asked of the head coach, so facing back-to-back games against the All Blacks could be make or break for his future in charge of the Wallabies.
Given their abject performance against the Pumas, it is difficult to make a case for Australian toppling New Zealand here. Indeed, the All Blacks are battle-hardened after two high-quality battles with South Africa, and they look in good shape to inflict another defeat on Australia in this penultimate round.
AUSTRALIA VS NEW ZEALAND TIP: NEW ZEALAND TO WIN
