Blockbusting wing Julian “the Bus” Savea returns to the New Zealand line-up in one of only three changes for Saturday’s world record bid when they play Australia in Auckland.
Savea takes over from Waisake Naholo on the left wing with the other changes to the side that crushed South Africa two weeks ago coming on the bench with the recall of Aaron Cruden and Malakai Fekitoa.
Victory for the All Blacks will give them a record 18th consecutive win, eclipsing the current record for a top tier nation of 17 which they currently share with the Springboks and two previous New Zealand squads.
It is a “hugely-anticipated Test,” coach Steve Hansen said when announcing the line up early Thursday. The All Blacks went through the recently completed Rugby Championship unbeaten and thrashed the Wallabies in both the home and away matches of that series but Hansen is expecting a more formidable opposition this time.
“Australia will be coming here with a lot more confidence than when we played earlier in the season,” he said.
“They’ve made some significant changes to their game and would like nothing better to end their Southern Hemisphere Test season with a win.
“They’ve said they are keen to bring it on, and have outlined their intentions, so the stage is set for another huge trans-Tasman battle.”
Savea, with an impressive 43 tries from 48 Tests, has shown inconsistent form this year, but Hansen indicated he was refreshed after not being required in South Africa.
His recall leaves no room for Naholo in the squad with the only back replacements being Cruden, who has recovered from the groin injury that sidelined him in recent months, Fekitoa and scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
TJ Perenara keeps the starting scrum-half role in place of Aaron Smith who misses a second consecutive Test in the wake of his toilet tryst scandal when he was seen entering a disabled toilet cubicle with a woman at busy airport. Smith was stood down for the South Africa Test and has voluntarily withdrawn from this match.
In the forwards, there is no lock replacement and Matt Todd remains the starting openside flanker role for the expected crucial battle with David Pocock, with Ardie Savea to be used as an impact player off the bench.
While the All Blacks have won their last 17 Tests, which include beating the Wallabies in the World Cup final last year, the Australians have won three of their last nine outings.
The Wallabies have a dismal record at Auckland’s Eden Park where they last won a 1986 victory and have since lost 16 times to the All Blacks.
New Zealand (15-1)
Ben Smith; Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea; Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara; Kieran Read (capt), Matt Todd, Jerome Kaino; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Joe Moody
Replacements: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Liam Squire, Ardie Savea, Tawera Kerr-barlow, Aaron Cruden, Malakai Fekitoa

England captain Hartley
‘on the route back’
England captain Dylan Hartley is aiming to make his first appearance in six weeks when Northampton travel to Castres in the European Champions Cup on Saturday. The New Zealand-born hooker, who earlier this year led England to a Six Nations Grand Slam and a 3-0 series win in Australia, has been out of action since September 11 following a series of back spasms.
However, he has now returned to full training and Northampton backs coach Alan Dickens said Wednesday: “Dylan’s been injured. He’s on the route back.
“He trained fully last week. He’s trained fully this week, it’s just dependent on how he reacts. He’s there or thereabouts,” he added of this weekend’s match away to French club Castres.
Hartley’s increasing fitness is welcome news for both Northampton, looking to back up their 16-14 win in last week’s Champions Cup opener against Montpellier, another French club, and England, who open their end-of-year Test series against South Africa at Twickenham on November 12.