Isaac Henry will start at outside centre for the Wallabies against the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday, the only change Les Kiss has made to the starting side that beat South Africa 42-38 in Perth. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii stays on the wing.
Henry, 27, replaces the suspended Hunter Paisami and will win his fifth Test cap. He debuted against Japan in Osaka in August and has since started against Japan and Argentina. Len Ikitau, who limped off against the Springboks with an ankle injury, has been cleared and moves in to inside centre.
The decision keeps Suaalii out of the midfield, where he and Ikitau have been Australia's most common centre pairing over the past four years. Kiss said he wanted to keep the back three of Suaalii, Max Jorgensen and fullback Tom Wright together. "We know that aerial game is pretty important and both Max and Joseph did very well last week," he said in Auckland.
On Henry, he was blunt. "He's earned it," Kiss said. "I'm really pleased for him and he's ready."
Kiss said Ikitau's ankle had been managed carefully early in the week. "There was no structural damage as such, but it was a pretty bad bruise in there," Kiss said.
The bench is back to a five-three split. Josh Nasser, Massimo De Lutiis, Nick Champion de Crespigny and Declan Meredith come in, with De Lutiis and Champion de Crespigny replacing Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper, who have returned to their clubs in France and England. Aidan Ross, a former All Black who switched to Australia in 2025, will face his old side for the first time. Harry Wilson captains the side and Allan Alaalatoa plays his 95th Test.
Australia arrive unbeaten in six matches, and Kiss's record since taking over from Joe Schmidt is four wins and a draw. They beat the world champion Springboks despite four late yellow cards that left them with 11 men in the closing minutes.
The record in Auckland is the other side of the ledger. Australia have not beaten New Zealand at Eden Park since 1986, and the All Blacks are unbeaten there in 53 Tests since 1994. New Zealand have won the last 11 Tests between the sides and have held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003.
The home side has injury problems of its own. Damian McKenzie starts at five-eighth with Ruben Love (ankle) and Richie Mo'unga (calf) ruled out, and regular captain Ardie Savea is sidelined with a shoulder injury. Codie Taylor leads the side, and all three Barrett brothers start. It is Dave Rennie's first Test as All Blacks coach against the Wallabies, the team he coached for 34 Tests before he was sacked ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
Kick-off is 5.10pm AEDT on Saturday, live on Stan Sport and the Nine Network. The second Test is at Accor Stadium in Sydney on 17 October.
