BRISBANE - He's not claiming any inside leaks this time, but Wallabies coach John Connolly is adamant the All Blacks' top lineup - the "No 1 team in the world" will be named today for Saturday's test in Brisbane.
He dismissed last Saturday's 35-17 win over the Springboks in Wellington
as "irrelevant on a form-guide basis", expecting at least half the All Blacks' starting lineup to be different.
While he light-heartedly claimed to have an inside "leak" in the All Blacks camp when he predicted the starting team before it was named for the Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup opener in Christchurch on July 8, it was hardly rocket science this time.
"I'll be very surprised if we didn't play exactly the same All Black lineup we faced in Christchurch [which New Zealand won 32-12]," he said yesterday.
"Put Aaron Mauger, Rico Gear, Joe Rokocoko, Jerry Collins, Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu back into the All Blacks lineup, and they are a totally different team.
"They will be fielding the No 1 team in the world.
"Halfback Byron Kelleher will also return to the No 9 jersey with Piri Weepu not travelling to Brisbane due to an injured knee, meaning at least seven changes are likely to the starting 15."
Connolly expected more finesse in the All Blacks side this weekend, compared with the approach used against the Springboks with the likes of hard-hitting midfielder Sam Tuitupou - who is also out with injury.
"You just look at guys like Mauger, who are a lot more creative than those who were out there against the Springboks."
- NZPA
