Wallabies

Speculation was rife that Cooper would fill the number 12 jersey after the Wallabies lost all three of Matt Giteau, Matt Toomua and Rob Horne to injury last week. But Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has opted to put the former Reds flyhalf straight into the main playmaking role.

Cooper will combine with usual Wallabies 10 Bernard Foley in a dual playmaker structure, with Foley starting at inside centre for the first time in his Test career.

NSW Police are continuing investigations after a listening bug was found in the All Blacks team meeting room in Double Bay in Sydney last week.

The Rose Bay Local Area Command have confirmed gambling links will form part of their investigations.

"Gambling is a terrible thing if you ask me," Cheika said.

"I don't even consider that type of stuff, I don't even know why anyone would be even interested to do something like that.

Three of Australia’s backs were lost before half-time, including both inside centres Matt Giteau and Matt Toomua, as New Zealand piled on the points, with four opening half tries and six overall, in front of 65,238 at ANZ Stadium.

All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett shaded Wallabies counterpart Bernard Foley in a man of the match performance, with slick attack and accurate kicking and as much as Australia battled hard nothing seemed to connect.

Now Sio and Alaalatoa will continue their family's rugby legacy when they run out for Australia in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney.

And their fathers could not be prouder.

"It's one of those things you never dream of but for the two families, it's very exciting," Tavita Sio said.

The young pair grew up playing junior rugby together in the western suburbs of Sydney.

"We can't wait to get out there and support Allan, Scott and the Wallabies team," Vili Alaalatoa added.

Fardy has started in all but one Test since Cheika took over the national coaching job, a crucial part of the Wallabies’ run to a World Cup final, and will come off the bench for the Bledisloe clash.

The Brumbies flanker has been replaced in the side by Ben McCalman, set to start his first Test since running on at number eight in last year’s World Cup quarter-final.

“Something we really want to build in our team is mental toughness,” he said.

“We didn't have that in the past and we've been working hard on it over the last 12-15 months, 18 months now I suppose and we want to continue to build that, so it's something that when a new player comes into the squad he really feels.”

Cheika said the hole the Wallabies found themselves in now presented them with a choice.

RNZ reports Barrett played a leading role in guiding the Hurricanes to their maiden Super Rugby title and that form has been rewarded with the playmaker usurping Cruden, who was the All Blacks first-choice first-five in the June test series against Wales.

Chiefs hooker Nathan Harris will start in the number 2 jersey as Dane Coles continues to recover from the rib injury that he played through in the Super Rugby final.

Sam Cane has retained his place at openside, with the in-form Ardie Savea to be used off the bench.

There are four uncapped players in the current squad - Reece Hodge, Lopeti Timani, Allan Alaalatoa and Tom Robertson - and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said he wouldn’t be counting them out of the Bledisloe.

“There might be a chance there somewhere in the 23, like a genuine chance,” he said.

“It really comes down to what we think is the best combination for the starting team and what'll happen, then that'll decide how the finishers look.

“There's a genuine possibility that someone could, it just depends on the mix that we go with in the starting team.”

Giteau has been absent as the bulk of the Wallabies squad began their Rugby Championship preparations in Sydney this week.

Giteau has remained in France to start training with Toulon where owner Mourad Boudjellal has maintained a hard-lined stance over his international stars playing test rugby.

It marked England's first series win on Australian turf, but it was the turf itself that was the biggest talking point as the pitch more closely resembled a sand pit at times.

England had won the first Test 39-28 in Brisbane last week to set up the series victory.

Despite assurances from ground staff in the lead-up to the Test, the sub-standard turf failed to hold up for even the first scrum.