Brad Weber has earned the halfback jersey for the All Blacks. Photo / Getty
Five starting changes, and a handful more on the bench, gives the impression the All Blacks will experiment in Perth on Sunday. Dig a little deeper, and the truth is Ian Foster has done everything within his power to drill home the significance of sweeping the Wallabies.
With Sam Whitelock, Richie Mo'unga and Aaron Smith remaining at home for the birth of their respective children Foster was always going to be forced to promote Beauden Barrett at first five-eighth and Scott Barrett to partner Brodie Retallick in the second-row.
The most intriguing elements of this week's selection therefore come at halfback and fullback. And in that regard if there is a feelgood story to the All Blacks, it's Brad Weber.
The easy option for the All Blacks was to favour TJ Perenara's 70 tests of experience to replace Smith. Foster instead rewarded Chiefs co-captain Weber, the 30-year-old who has scrapped his way to the biggest occasion of his career.
Weber debuted for the All Blacks in Apia six years ago. That he has played nine tests since – starting once earlier this year in the 102-0 rout over Tonga – speaks to the rollercoaster ride he's endured in attempting to prove he deserves consistent national selection.
Part of the challenge in winning over the selectors centres on Smith's dominance of the role but with the Highlanders halfback out of the picture for now, Weber is determined to seize the rare opening. Having recently re-signed through to the 2023 World Cup, Weber now gets the chance to backup that decision.
"It's incredibly satisfying to have a lot of that persistence and patience pay off," said Weber, who will oppose livewire Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott. "I'm under no illusions I'm a halfback playing in an era where we've got one of the greats so I never take these opportunities for granted. I've had to fight tooth and nail to get back into this side over a few years. Ever since I made it back it's been a goal to stay here and contribute as much as I can.
"Getting a start in a game like this has been one of those goals. Opportunities in the nine jersey are few and far between with Aaron in the nine jersey. I've had one chance and I was real keen to play in a game as big as this against the Australians. This will be one of the biggest I've had to date.
"I've got the first crack and I'm pretty keen to stake my claim strongly this weekend."
Jordie Barrett's promotion over Damian McKenzie ranks alongside Weber in terms of those with most to gain. Barrett has been largely been kept on ice by the All Blacks, with McKenzie preferred in four of the five tests at fullback. While capable of producing magic moments Foster wants Barrett to nail the instances that matter most on Sunday.
"Jordie has been looking for an opportunity," Foster said. "We've been pretty happy with Damian at the back in terms of the way he comes in and influences the first-receiver role. We know Jordie is a quality player but we get asked a lot of decisions on attack and defence at fullback and that's probably his biggest work-on.
"We know he's a great individual athlete who can do some special things but it's about bringing that calmness at the back. We've got a lot of faith in him so there's a nice little battle going on at fullback."
Sevu Reece's exclusion underlines the intense competition in the All Blacks back three. Anton Lienert-Brown's return from injury at centre pushes the in-form Rieko Ioane to the left wing and with the ever-present Will Jordan on the right, and George Bridge making his comeback from the bench, there is no room for Reece's elusive qualities.
The composition of the bench is another talking point with Ethan Blackadder – not seen since the first-test win over Fiji in July when he started at openside – replacing Luke Jacobson and Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa'i set for his maiden appearance of the season after Patrick Tuipulotu picked up a minor groin complaint.
Overall Foster has opted for his strongest available side and further rammed home the importance of victory this week by publicly acknowledging the All Blacks' last outing in Perth two years ago resulted in a record defeat, and the fact they have swept the Wallabies only three times in the past 10 years.
"It's certainly been mentioned," Foster said. "It's an achievement that's harder than everyone thinks because we haven't done it that often. It has revealed we don't subconsciously switch well from a Bledisloe series to the Rugby Championship.
"Being surrounded by talk of dead rubbers and third Bledisloes when you've already got the Cup in the trophy cabinet can lull you into a false sense of security. The biggest thing for us is getting really excited about the Rugby Championship because we don't want to have excuses. Giving yourself an out before you get on the park is not a way to perform for a test match."
In many ways this could have been a hugely challenging week for the All Blacks. Coming down from the high of a record win at Eden Park; locking away the Bledisloe for a 19th straight year, leaving three influential players behind, naming a new captain in Ardie Savea and preparing for a test while in quarantine could all chip away at the mental resolve required.
Creating those internal challenges, and knowing the Wallabies will use the All Blacks' delayed departure as fuel to the fire, should ensure Foster's men are exactly where they need to be come Sunday.
All Blacks: Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Brad Weber, Ardie Savea (captain), Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, George Bower.
Reserves: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Angus Ta'avao, Tupou Vaa'i, TJ Perenara, Ethan Blackadder, Damian McKenzie, George Bridge.
Wallabies: Tom Banks, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper (c), Lachlan Swinton, Matt Philip, Darcy Swain, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Fainga'a, James Slipper.
Reserves: Lachlan Lonergan, Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Izack Rodda, Pete Samu, Nic White, Reece Hodge, Jordan Petaia.
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