Auckland (AFP)

They must react and quickly. The double world champions New Zealand, swept by Australia (47-26) in Perth, have to meet the Wallabies Saturday (9:35 am / 07:35 GMT) in Auckland not to let slip the Bledisloe Cup, they have since 2003.

At one month of the World Cup (September 20 - November 2), the All Blacks have a lot to lose at Eden Park: the regional trophy they have won continuously for a decade and a half, the first place in the ranking world on which they have been sitting since 2009 and still a little more confidence, already shaken by a failed Rugby Championship.

Hansen chose the counterpoise. "I love it, it's the best challenge we could have before going to the World Cup," smiled the coach, who pulled out Owen Franks and wingers Ben Smith and Rieko Ioane from the team. side of their subject in Australia.

"Obviously, we would like to see Ben, Owen and Rieko play better but we made this decision because we have to see the others under pressure and there is probably not much more important match than this one," he said. justified Hansen.

Reduced to 14 at half-time, the All Blacks exploded after the break, conceding the highest total points in their history due to a very friable defense (38 tackles missed).

"We did not play last week and we will have to play this week, otherwise the Bledisloe Cup will return to Australia," warns Hansen, who kept Richie Mo'unga at the opening and Beauden Barrett at the back , an association that did not have much more success against South Africa (16-16).

Australia, it has trusted the heroes of Perth by renewing 14 of its 15 holders. She is at the gate of a huge feat: to regain the Bledisloe Cup, she must win again against the Blacks. But his last win in New Zealand dates back to 2001.

The starting XV

New Zealand: B. Barrett - Reece, A. Lienert-Brown, SB Williams, G. Bridge - (o) Mo'unga, (m) A. Smith - Cane, Read (cap.), A. Savea - S Whitelock, Tuipulotu - N. Laulala, Coles, Moody

Australia: Beale - Hodge, J. O'Connor, Kerevi, Koroibete - (o) Lealiifano, (m) N. White - Hooper (cap.), Naisarani, Salakaia-Loto - Coleman, Rodda - Alaalatoa, Latu, Sio

replacements

New Zealand: C. Taylor, Tuungafasi, Ta'avao, Hemopo, Todd, Perenara, Laumape, J. Barrett

Australia: Fainga'a, Slipper, Tupou, Simmons, Wright, Genia, Ashley-Cooper, Toomua

© 2019 AFP