Bledisloe Cup

Savea at blindside as Barrett and Mo'unga start for All Blacks

Savea makes his first start at blindside flanker, with captain Kieran Read at number eight and Sam Cane at openside.

Coach Steve Hansen seems to have had a change of heart about playing loose forward Savea at number six.

Hansen has said previously he doesn't believe Savea has the bulk to play at blindside but has opted to play him there rather than moving skipper Kieran Read to the side of the scrum and bringing Savea in at number eight.

James O'Connor to start at centre for Wallabies against All Blacks

Australia do not name their team until Thursday but it is understood coach Michael Cheika is set to make a number of changes for the match at Perth on Saturday.

O'Connor's selection at No 13 in place of Tevita Kuridrani is set to be the big talking point, with the Brumbies centre understood to have been left out of the match day 23 altogether.

It caps a remarkable comeback for O'Connor, who played his first game since 2013 for the Wallabies two weeks ago in Brisbane, coming off the bench.

Wallabies vs New Zealand, Yokohama

Australia has already lost the series for a 16th-straight year but the Wallabies have a chance to salvage some pride and win back some fans with a good showing in Japan.

Jack Dempsey, Sefa Naivalu and Samu Kerevi will all be returning from long injury layoffs for the clash after Reece Hodge's fractured ankle ruled him out of the tour.

Adam Coleman is a big name missing in the pack after suffering a groin injury this week, replaced by Rob Simmons in the starting lineup.

Wallabies have got their belief back: Barrett

But Barrett pointed to Australia's stunning recent fightback against Argentina -- when they wiped out a 24-point half-time deficit to win 45-34 -- as evidence the Wallabies have turned the corner after losing six of their eight previous Tests.

"We always get a confident Australia, there's no doubt about that," the two-time world player of the year told reporters.

"They've probably rediscovered that bit of belief that may have been missing. It was a great comeback, we acknowledge that -- be we weren't surprised to see them come back.

Hansen targets areas to pressure Wallabies

New Zealand blew Australia away in the first half of each of the last two Bledisloe season openers and have held the coveted trophy since 2003.

But the hard work of his Australian counterpart Michael Cheika in endeavouring to close the gap between the trans-Tasman rivals hasn't gone unnoticed by Hansen.

"I think they are a good side, they've improved a heck of a lot," Hansen said.

"They've done a lot of hard work on their running lines and their core set piece roles.

"Their scrum has got better, looking at it against Ireland.

'Mind games' not fooling Wallabies

Barrett's starting spot has come into question, with calls for Crusaders star Richie Mo'unga to be handed the All Blacks No.10 jumper after guiding his side to back-to-back Super Rugby titles.

But Foley is having none of it, believing it's crazy to suggest New Zealand's 2016 and 2017 world player of the year won't be calling the shots once again.

"I can't see why there'd be any different. He's been a stalwart there for a few years," he said.

"He's world player of the year at the moment, isn't he? I think it's more internal mind games.

Could the Bledisloe be decided in Japan?

Fox Sports Australia is reporting that the October Test against the Wallabies will be played in Japan in the lead-up to the All Blacks' match against the Brave Blossoms on 3 November.

It would also be a chance for both sides to get accustomed with Japan's facilities ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The last time the two sides played each other outside their home nations was in 2010 in Hong Kong - where Australia won the match 26-24.

Both sides have also played each other in Japan back in 2009. Australia also won that match.

Simmons a surprise second Bledisloe starter

Simmons, played 13 matches for the Reds this year, one of those at blindside flanker after being released by Queensland as coach Nick Stiles looked to the future.

He and fellow World Cup lock Kane Douglas were both out of favour at the Reds, with Simmons left out of the 23 as early as March when the side played the Jaguares.

Simmons played in 11 of the Wallabies' 15 Tests last year, starting in three of the Spring Tour Tests after an injury to Adam Coleman.

Coles boost for All Blacks

Coles missed four months of action with a head injury, sitting out the British and Irish Lions series before returning for Hurricanes' Super Rugby quarter-final win over Brumbies last month.

The 30-year-old was due to return to the international fold for New Zealand's opening Rugby Championship clash against the Wallabies last week, which they won 54-34, but suffered a fresh head knock in the 'game of three halves' against Taranaki and Counties Manukau and was ruled out of the Bledisloe Cup contest.

Bledisloe performance 'not acceptable': Speight

The Wallabies began training Christchurch on Monday ahead of this weekend’s second Bledisloe, Speight said players knew they were not up to scratch in that opening defeat.

“A lot of harsh truths didn’t have to be said,” he said.

“Us as individuals and us as players can be the harshest on ourselves.

“We knew that first half especially is a standard that is not acceptable and that in itself is a big reality check for us players.

“We didn’t need much of the coaches or much video for that be brought to face for us.