All Blacks v Wallabies: Caleb Clarke, Cam Roigard return for Rugby Championship, Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park

Thursday, 25 September 2025

Caleb Clarke will play his first All Blacks test of 2025 against the Wallabies on Saturday (file photo).

What: Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup, All Blacks v Wallabies. Where: Eden Park, Auckland. When: 5.05pm Saturday, live on Sky Sport 1.

The All Blacks will be without their regular skipper but welcome back a lineup of key returnees to face the Wallabies in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup opener in Auckland.

Captain and lock Scott Barrett was ruled out with a shoulder injury on Thursday, but is expected to be considered for next weekend’s rematch in Perth.

It means Fabian Holland returns to start at lock alongside Tupou Vaa’i, as one of four personnel changes to the starting XV from the embarrassing 43-10 loss to the Springboks in Wellington.

Hooker Codie Taylor (concussion), halfback Cam Roigard (foot) and wing Caleb Clarke (ankle) all return to the run-on side, while on the bench lock Patrick Tuipulotu (facial fracture) and halfback Cortez Ratima (rib fracture) are also back in the matchday squad.

Clarke will play his 30th test and first of 2025 as he starts on the left wing in a reshuffled back-three with Will Jordan returning to his rightful spot at fullback and lively Wellington debutant Leroy Carter switching to the No 14 jersey.

Damian McKenzie moves to the bench after starting at fullback against the Boks.

Clarke was sidelined by an ankle injury and made an impressive return for Auckland in the NPC in recent weeks. His presence again keeps Rieko Ioane and Sevu Reece out of the 23, with Carter’s speed and attacking prowess rewarded after a try on debut on an otherwise forgettable night for the All Blacks in the capital.

Roigard is back to wear No 9 after suffering a foot stress fracture in the France series, while Ratima also returns on the bench as the halfback injury crisis eases noticeably.

Coach Scott Robertson has resisted to urge to make wholesale changes. In the pack, he kept the same loose trio of Wallace Sititi, stand-in captain Ardie Savea and Simon Parker, while Taylor’s return at hooker moves Samisoni Taukei’aho to the bench.

Loose forward Peter Lakai is also a notable selection on the bench for his first test of 2025, after making his debut last year. He nudges Hurricanes team-mate Du’Plessis Kirifi out of the matchday 23.

The All Blacks will be out to maintain two long-standing records.

They have held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003, and the Joe Schmidt-coached Wallabies will need to win in both Auckland and Perth to wrestle it back. They last won a Bledisloe test in Brisbane in 2020.

There’s also the Eden Park factor, with the All Blacks’ 24-17 win over the Springboks earlier this month extending their unbeaten streak there to 51 tests across 31 years.

The Wallabies last won at Eden Park in 1986.

The Rugby Championship remains up for grabs, too, with all four teams having recorded two wins and two losses going into the final fortnight.

All Blacks: Will Jordan, Leroy Carter, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard, Wallace Sititi, Ardie Savea (capt), Simon Parker, Tupou Vaa’i, Fabian Holland, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Cortez Ratima, Quinn Tupaea, Damian McKenzie.