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.

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.

Good morning and welcome to coverage of the Rugby Championship as Australia host New Zealand in the first part of the Bledisloe Cup in Sydney. The Rugby Championship so far has not served Australia or New Zealand well.

Australia vs. New Zealand in the 2024 Rugby Championship kicks off at 1:45 a.m. ET on Sept. 21. This fixture takes place at Stadium Australia. You can live stream the 2024 Rugby Championship for free on NZR+, including Australia vs. New Zealand.

Australia and New Zealand will hope to bounce back from Rugby Championship defeats as the rivals meet in their first Bledisloe Cup clash of the year. The Wallabies suffered a record loss to Argentina last time out, continuing a difficult campaign for a side in transition after a damaging World Cup last year.

New Zealand have chosen to recall 23-cap wing Caleb Clarke as well as fullback Beauden Barrett, restoring the three-man back row (Clarke, Barrett and Will Jordan) who ran amok in the redemptive 42-10 win over Argentina earlier in the Championship.

Joe Schmidt spent the last two years as a senior advisor to Ian Foster, helping to orchestate the turnaround that took the All Blacks to last year’s World Cup final. While Scott Robertson’s arrival has changed the New Zealand environment, Schmidt can still count upon inside knowledge to some degree as he looks to get one over his compatriots.