Meanwhile, in Tokyo, the All Blacks will warm up for their tour with a game against Japan. New Zealand head to the Welsh capital to face Wayne Pivac’s Welsh side the following weekend, while the Wallabies will be in Cardiff at the end of November.
Pivac and his coaching team will no doubt be watching very closely as the two southern hemisphere powerhouses get back in to action. Wales will be seeking a first win over the All Blacks since 1953 and hoping for a fourth win in a row over the Wallabies.
Dave Rennie has made five changes to his side following the Rugby Championship defeat to New Zealand on 24 September, bringing former skipper Michael Hooper back into the fold in the back row following his break for mental health reasons since the July series against England.
“We are rapt for Michael Hooper. He has been outstanding both on and off the field since re-entering the environment and he can’t wait to pull on the gold jersey again,” said a delighted Rennie.
Scrum half Tate McDermott has been handed his first start of 2022, while Hunter Paisami comes in for Marika Koroibete at centre. James Slipper will captain the side as he takes his cap tally up to 124.
All Blacks boss Ian Foster looks as though he is using the game in Japan to take a look at some players. Two will make their first appearance in the starting XV, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Stephen Perofeta, while another five are returning from injury.
Among the returnees will be centre Anton Lienert-Brown. The 56-Test midfielder missed the start of the international season due to a shoulder injury and, after being named as midfield cover, is in line to earn his first cap since November.
The game will be played at the Japan National Stadium, which recently hosted the Olympic Games, and a sell-out crowd off 65,000 will be the largest attendance at a game in Japan outside the 2019 World Cup
“This Northern Tour is going to be huge. We see four incredibly tough Tests ahead and this one against Japan will ask some serious questions of us,” said Foster.
“We want to show that we are ready to respond. We want to show that we have put in the work required to lift our game even further after the Rugby Championship.
New Zealand (v Japan): Stephen Perofeta; Sevu Reece, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Caleb Clarke; Richie Mo’unga, Finlay Christie; George Bower, Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane (captain), Hoskins Sotutu Reps: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tyrel Lomax, Patrick Tuipulotu, Dalton Papali’i, Aaron Smith, David Havili, Anton Lienert-Brown
Australia (v Scotland): Tom Banks; Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Tom Wright; Bernard Foley, Tate McDermott; James Slipper (captain), David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper, Rob Valetini Reps: Folau Fainga’a, Matt Gibbon, Taniela Tupou, Ned Hanigan, Pete Samu, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Jock Campbell
