Ethan de Groot is fit to return from a neck injury and starts at loosehead for New Zealand, while Beauden Barrett is also brought back into the run-on side. The eldest Barrett brother’s inclusion sees Will Jordan shift to the right wing, and Pasilio Tosi is set for only a second cap as the reserve tighthead.

We'd love it to still be alive,' the Wallabies coach said.

The Wallabies took on the All Blacks in the opening match of the Bledisloe Cup at Accor Stadium in Sydney looking to put the misery of their previous loss to Argentina firmly behind them.

You can’t keep living on future revenues.' Photo / Photosport The poor old Wallabies are trying to claw their way up the world rankings from an historic low of ninth, and they are desperately trying to make punitive interest payments on the $80m debt facility they were afforded by an Australasian fund manager.

The All Blacks led 21-0 after 15 minutes but faltered badly in the second half, only just holding on with 13 men at one point to beat Australia 31-28 in the first Bledisloe Cup test.

On a sun-drenched Sydney afternoon, the All Blacks fired and almost fatally fizzed to deliver another erratic performance that anxiously locked away the Bledisloe Cup. Securing the coveted Bledisloe for a 22nd straight year ensures the All Blacks trophy cabinet won’t be bare after losing the Freedom Cup and Rugby Championship following successive losses in South Africa.

New Zealand scored four tries in the first 20 minutes and held off an Australian fightback with 13 men late on to beat the Wallabies 31-28 in a Rugby Championship test at Stadium Australia on Saturday.

The Bledisloe Cup will remain in New Zealand for a 23rd straight year after the All Blacks beat the Wallabies 31-28 in a Rugby Championship thriller in Sydney.