Wallabies head coach Les Kiss has named his matchday 23 for the second Bledisloe Cup Test match against the All Blacks with yet another change at fly-half.
Rookie playmaker Declan Meredith has been handed the number 10 jersey for the clash against New Zealand with Ben Donaldson unavailable with a minor upper leg injury.
Meredith will earn just his fourth cap for the Wallabies in doing so after debuting in the Nations Championship against France in July, while also appearing against Italy and Japan and off the bench last weekend in the defeat at Eden Park.
He replaces Donaldson who started Australia’s last three Test matches in the number 10 jersey against Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand, before adding to the ever-growing list of Wallaby fly-half injuries this year.
Les Kiss’ changes for the second Bledisloe Cup Test
Meredith will partner Brumbies clubmate Ryan Lonergan in the halfbacks while Kiss has been forced to end the Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii wing experiment with Len Ikitau ruled out with a concussion.
Suaalii shifts into the centres where he partners Isaac Henry with Harry Potter filling the former’s void on the left wing. Winger Max Jorgensen and full-back Tom Wright retain their starting roles in the backline.
Kiss has not tinkered with his loose trio as captain Harry Wilson continues in the number eight jersey and he is flanked by Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini.
The locks remain unchanged too as Lukhan Salakaia-Loto earns his 50th Test cap since making his Test debut, becoming Wallaby #914, in a 27-all draw against South Africa in Bloemfontein in 2017. He will again partner Jeremy Williams in the second row.
There are two changes in the starting front row, with Aidan Ross named as the run-on loosehead prop, alongside his club teammate and hooker Josh Nasser and experienced tighthead Allan Alaalatoa.
Loosehead prop Angus Bell therefore drops to the bench while Brandon Paenga-Amosa is misses out entirely. Bell provides front row cover along with Billy Pollard who has been recalled, and tighthead Massimo De Lutiis.
Kiss has stuck with a 5-3 bench split as Josh Canham makes his return from injury via the bench along with Carlo Tizzano.
Queensland’s Kalani Thomas has been selected for his first Bledisloe Cup Test as the replacement scrum-half with the fly-half injury crisis providing the opportunity for his clubmate Harry McLaughlin-Phillips to make his Test debut. The versatile Filipo Daugunu rounds out the matchday 23.
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“We got a clear picture last weekend of where we need to be better. We’ve said all along we’ll continue to work hard and grow our game, and the squad has been impressive in the way they have prepared this week,” head coach Kiss said.
“This Saturday will be a great occasion with the Wallaroos and Sevens teams also playing in our own backyard. Playing our final Test on home soil for 2026 is a huge motivator and we’re determined to put out a performance all Australians can be proud of.”
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Wallabies team v All Blacks
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Isaac Henry, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Massimo De Lutiis, 19 Josh Canham, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Filipo Daugunu
Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 15:45 (local AEDT), 05:45 (UK), 06:45 (France), 06:45 (South Africa), 15:45 (AEDT), 17:45 (New Zealand), 01:45 (Argentina), 13:45 (JST), 00:45 (EDT)
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU) and Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Broadcasters: Nine Network / Stan Sport (Australia), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Sky Sports (United Kingdom & Ireland), SuperSport (South Africa / Africa), Canal+ (France / Andorra / Monaco / Luxembourg), FloSports (USA), TSN (Canada), ESPN (Argentina / South America), Wowow (Japan), Sky Italia (Italy), Premier Sports (much of Asia), Digicel / Sky Pacific (Pacific Islands)