Wallabies tactical bid to unseat the All Blacks

Read said Cheika’s decision to start both Pocock and Hooper probably placed even more emphasis on the breakdown battle. Nepo Laulala also continues his impressive rise with a spot on the bench for the rested Wyatt Crockett.

Matt Giteau will play his first test against the All Blacks in four years.

It’s nearly cruel that arguably Australia’s two best players, David Pocock and Michael Hooper, play in the same position. Granted, they’ll be backed by a fanatical Sydney crowd, but New Zealand’s class with the ball in hand, power up front and skill at the breakdown will see the visitors take another narrow win. “I’m certainly proud that I can still foot it after all these years”.

Fortunately for the former captain, his side did just that.

Having started a game each so far in the Rugby Championship, Cheika admits he has been pleased with the way Hooper and Pocock have performed and is looking forward to seeing them in tandem against the All Blacks.

Richie McCaw turned a little bashful at the reminder that he was about to emulate one of the few records in rugby that he had not already shattered. Pocock was spectacularly good against the Pumas, and an unfamiliar number on his back is unlikely to change that.

A logical move, perhaps, but the last time the Wallabies fielded two No.7s in the same pack against New Zealand – Pocock and George Smith in 2009, playing opposite current superstars Richie McCaw and Kieran Read – they were trounced 33-6.

Australian scrum-half Nick Phipps said Hansen was right to expect more aggression from the Wallabies.

The All Blacks have named a debutant on the right wing in Nehe Milner-Skudder, and the 24-year-old is one of several changes.

Hansen’s side is expected to send plenty of traffic at the Wallabies’ midfield, with Bernard Foley and Matt Giteau sure to be a focus from the likes of big midfielder Sonny Bill Williams. It’s a trophy the All Blacks have held since 2002.

The second Bledisloe Test is on Saturday week at Auckland’s Eden Park.

The words “vulnerable” and “complacent” have been bandied about regarding the All Blacks in recent days.

August 7 The Wallabies have been determined not to give New Zealand a single scrap of extra motivation ahead of their Sydney clash this week and seasoned campaigner Drew Mitchell was never likely to go against that trend on Friday.

Hansen said complacency would only be an issue for the All Blacks if they allowed their standards to drop.

Cheika may have home-ground advantage but he is in no doubt the favourites are the All Blacks who have only lost two Tests-to South Africa and England-of 45 played since winning the last World Cup.

While Australia coaches over the last three seasons have been upbeat about their chances of knocking off the All Blacks and wresting back the Bledisloe Cup, Michael Cheika has been keen to claim the status of underdog this week.

Mitchell has scored 30 test tries, a tally matched by his opposite number on Saturday, Julian Savea, in just 33 games.

Dan Carter, rugby’s leading worldwide points-scorer, is nine away from 1500 at Test level. He should get it in a five-point win.