Damian McKenzie to start at first five for Bledisloe Cup Test
Monday 5 October 2026 · 6 outlets · 37 reports · updated In this story All Blacks, Scott Robertson, Beauden Barrett, Springboks, Ardie Savea, Wallabies
Damian McKenzie will start at first five-eighth for the All Blacks against the Wallabies at Eden Park this Saturday. Head coach Dave Rennie named the matchday 23 following injuries to Richie Mo’unga and Ruben Love. Beauden Barrett is set to start at fullback for the opening Bledisloe Cup match.
Key facts
4 facts
- Damian McKenzie starts at first five-eighth for the first Bledisloe Cup test
- The match will be played at Eden Park on Saturday
- Codie Taylor is the captain
- Richie Mo'unga and Ruben Love are unavailable due to injury
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
Damian McKenzie will start at first five-eighth for the All Blacks in the first Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies at Eden Park this Saturday. Mo’unga was ruled out on Thursday morning due to a calf injury.
Codie Taylor will captain the side, with Beauden Barrett starting at fullback in his 146th test. The starting lock pairing will consist of Scott Barrett and Josh Lord. Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai, and Wallace Sititi will start at blindside, openside, and number eight respectively.
Shannon Frizell will return to test rugby as a reserve. Other players named in the starting lineup include Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter, Cam Roigard, Fletcher Newell, and Ethan de Groot. The reserves include Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Pasilio Tosi, Anton Segner, Kyle Preston, Rieko Ioane, and Josh Moorby.
Where reports differ
- One report specifies Richie Mo'unga's calf injury occurred during training, while another notes he was ruled out on Thursday morning
Compiled from reports by 1News, Otago Daily Times and Stuff.
How they headlined it
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Stuff
- Why the Wallabies think they can challenge the All Blacks at Eden Park (opens in new tab)
- The big talking points ahead of the Bledisloe Cup opener against the Wallabies at Eden Park (opens in new tab)
- All Blacks injury blow: Richie Mo’unga and Fehi Fineanganofo out (opens in new tab)
- All Blacks coach Dave Rennie reveals his 23 to face the Wallabies at Eden Park in Bledisloe opener (opens in new tab)
- Dave Rennie on decision to start Damian McKenzie at No 10 (opens in new tab)
- ABs coach reveals tough calls in team to face Wallabies (opens in new tab)
- Dave Rennie on the All Blacks’ Eden Park and Bledisloe Cup streaks (opens in new tab)
- All Blacks forced into first-five pivot ahead of first Bledisloe Cup test against Wallabies (opens in new tab)
- All Blacks coach Dave Rennie explains omissions of Tyrel Lomax and Fabian Holland (opens in new tab)
- Rennie’s eye-catching changes in All Blacks team for Bledisloe opener (opens in new tab)
- Fabian Holland shock axing: All Blacks coach Dave Rennie makes it clear nobody’s jersey is safe (opens in new tab)
- All Blacks boss Dave Rennie faces Wallabies for first time since being sacked as their coach in 2023 (opens in new tab)
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NZ Herald
All blacks v wallabies why shannon frizell and scott barrett may not start (opens in new tab)Premium
- All blacks vs wallabies scott barrett cares more about playing than reclaiming captaincy gregor paul (opens in new tab)Premium
- Bledisloe cup rugby a dummies guide to the wallabies eden park hoodoo against the all blacks 40 years without a win (opens in new tab)Premium
- All Blacks vs Wallabies: The changes Dave Rennie could make for the Wallabies at Eden Park (opens in new tab)Premium
- All Blacks v Wallabies: Richie Mo’unga and Fehi Fineanganofo ruled out of Bledisloe Cup tests (opens in new tab)
- All Blacks v Wallabies: Damian McKenzie picked at No 10 for Bledisloe Cup opener, Scott Barrett returns (opens in new tab)
- All Blacks v Wallabies rugby: Is this Australia’s best chance of a Bledisloe Cup upset? – Liam Napier (opens in new tab)
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RNZ
Rugby: All Black Scott Barrett on life after captaincy (opens in new tab)
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Otago Daily Times
Frizell, Barrett add power to ABs pack for Bledisloe (opens in new tab)
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The Post
- The All Blacks’ big men have admitted scrum shortcomings - but back three is under more pressure (opens in new tab)
- Richie Mo’unga, Fehi Fineanganofo ruled out for All Blacks v Wallabies (opens in new tab)
- Barrett brothers reunited as Scott, Beauden handed All Blacks starts to face Wallabies at Eden Park (opens in new tab)
- Wallabies name Aidan Ross for first test against ex-All Black teammates (opens in new tab)
- All Blacks team shows a fear of losing - and Fabian Holland’s omission is a head scratcher (opens in new tab)
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1News
Bledisloe heartbreak fuelling ABs' long Cup hold (opens in new tab)
- All Blacks: Will the Barrett brothers reunite against the Wallabies? (opens in new tab)
- Double injury blow for All Blacks ahead of Bledisloe Cup Tests (opens in new tab)
- McKenzie to start at 10 for All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup Test (opens in new tab)
- Scotty Stevenson: All Blacks' intriguing backline call for Bledisloe Test (opens in new tab)
- Rennie explains 'hardest to pick' All Blacks team for Bledisloe opener (opens in new tab)