NEW ZEALAND COACH Dave Rennie on Thursday made five changes to his starting team for the Nations Championship Test against Italy, while shaking up his replacements bench.
Leroy Carter was a surprise choice to start on the left wing for Saturday’s Test in Wellington, replacing Caleb Clarke from the All Blacks side that beat France 34-32 in Christchurch a week earlier, while Billy Proctor comes in at outside centre.
Prop Tyrel Lomax, lock Tupou Vaa’i and flanker Wallace Sititi also come into the XV.
Among six new faces on the replacements bench are the German-born loose forward Anton Segner and wing Josh Moorby, who are both in line to make their debuts.
Rennie said it was a “strong side” and showed the “respect we have” for Italy.
Italy have never beaten New Zealand in 17 previous attempts.
Ten players in the matchday 23 played the last time the two teams met, in Turin in 2024, when New Zealand won 29-11.
Elsewhere, debutant Declan Meredith was named as the Australia starting out-half to face France in Brisbane after Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson were both ruled out with injuries.
The 27-year-old ACT Brumbies playmaker was called into the Australia squad for the first time before the Nations Championship opener against Ireland last week.
He failed to make the Wallabies bench, but now finds himself as the leading No.10 for Saturday’s encounter, with Gordon and Donaldson, who both played last week, sidelined by calf strains.
Gordon will also miss the 18 July clash with Italy. The long-term prognosis for Donaldson, who missed two late penalties in their 33-31 defeat to Ireland in Sydney, remains unclear.
Meredith will have the familiar face of Brumbies teammate Ryan Lonergan at scrum-half against a French side smarting from losing 34-32 to New Zealand in Christchurch in their Nations Championship opener.
He is one of two changes to the XV with Jock Campbell, who started his first Test in four years last week, moving to the bench. Tom Wright takes his place at fullback.
“The group has reset this week in Brisbane after what was a tough ending to the first game of the Nations Championship,” said Australia coach Joe Schmidt.
“We have worked hard on continuing to improve after missing some vital opportunities last weekend.
“We know we can be better on Saturday, and we know that we will need to be against the back-to-back Six Nations Champions.”
Max Jorgensen and Dylan Pietsch are again on the wings with Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii partnering in the centres.
Four Queensland Reds players start in the pack -– Josh Nasser at hooker, Josh Canham at lock, Fraser McReight at openside flanker and skipper Harry Wilson at No.8.
Nasser is joined by experienced props Angus Bell and Allan Alaalatoa in the front row, with Canham linking with Jeremy Williams as the locks.
Rob Valetini is the blindside flanker in what is a familiar back-row trio alongside McReight and Wilson.
France coach Fabien Galthie made seven changes to his starting side, and a key positional switch with star playmaker Matthieu Jalibert moved to fullback.
Following an agonising 34-32 loss to New Zealand, Galthie swung the axe and intriguingly moved Bordeaux magician Jalibert into a position he has never played for France before. Romain Ntamack will occupy his out-half role instead.
But there are injury concerns over Jalibert who missed training sessions this week with a calf niggle.
“He’ll have a full test tomorrow during the captain’s run at the stadium,” Galthie said. “Then we’ll make the decision based on how he feels.”
Should Jalibert be ruled out, La Rochelle’s Antoine Hastoy would likely start instead.
Five of the seven players brought into the team featured in the Top 14 final between Toulouse and Montpellier late last month including hooker Peato Mauvaka who scored twice.
He is part of a revamped second row with Montpellier’s Florian Verhaeghe and Toulouse giant Emmanuel Meafou.
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Montpellier flanker Lenni Nouchi and teammate Ntamack at No.10 were also absent against New Zealand.
Stade Français prop Moses Alo-Emile and Pau winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang are the others who come in.
France are without record try-scorer Damian Penaud who was injured against New Zealand and has returned home.
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All Blacks make changes for Italy, Jalibert moves to fullback for France as Galthié swings axe
NEW ZEALAND COACH Dave Rennie on Thursday made five changes to his starting team for the Nations Championship Test against Italy, while shaking up his replacements bench.
Leroy Carter was a surprise choice to start on the left wing for Saturday’s Test in Wellington, replacing Caleb Clarke from the All Blacks side that beat France 34-32 in Christchurch a week earlier, while Billy Proctor comes in at outside centre.
Prop Tyrel Lomax, lock Tupou Vaa’i and flanker Wallace Sititi also come into the XV.
Among six new faces on the replacements bench are the German-born loose forward Anton Segner and wing Josh Moorby, who are both in line to make their debuts.
Rennie said it was a “strong side” and showed the “respect we have” for Italy.
Italy have never beaten New Zealand in 17 previous attempts.
Ten players in the matchday 23 played the last time the two teams met, in Turin in 2024, when New Zealand won 29-11.
Elsewhere, debutant Declan Meredith was named as the Australia starting out-half to face France in Brisbane after Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson were both ruled out with injuries.
The 27-year-old ACT Brumbies playmaker was called into the Australia squad for the first time before the Nations Championship opener against Ireland last week.
He failed to make the Wallabies bench, but now finds himself as the leading No.10 for Saturday’s encounter, with Gordon and Donaldson, who both played last week, sidelined by calf strains.
Gordon will also miss the 18 July clash with Italy. The long-term prognosis for Donaldson, who missed two late penalties in their 33-31 defeat to Ireland in Sydney, remains unclear.
Meredith will have the familiar face of Brumbies teammate Ryan Lonergan at scrum-half against a French side smarting from losing 34-32 to New Zealand in Christchurch in their Nations Championship opener.
He is one of two changes to the XV with Jock Campbell, who started his first Test in four years last week, moving to the bench. Tom Wright takes his place at fullback.
“The group has reset this week in Brisbane after what was a tough ending to the first game of the Nations Championship,” said Australia coach Joe Schmidt.
“We have worked hard on continuing to improve after missing some vital opportunities last weekend.
“We know we can be better on Saturday, and we know that we will need to be against the back-to-back Six Nations Champions.”
Max Jorgensen and Dylan Pietsch are again on the wings with Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii partnering in the centres.
Four Queensland Reds players start in the pack -– Josh Nasser at hooker, Josh Canham at lock, Fraser McReight at openside flanker and skipper Harry Wilson at No.8.
Nasser is joined by experienced props Angus Bell and Allan Alaalatoa in the front row, with Canham linking with Jeremy Williams as the locks.
Rob Valetini is the blindside flanker in what is a familiar back-row trio alongside McReight and Wilson.
France coach Fabien Galthie made seven changes to his starting side, and a key positional switch with star playmaker Matthieu Jalibert moved to fullback.
Following an agonising 34-32 loss to New Zealand, Galthie swung the axe and intriguingly moved Bordeaux magician Jalibert into a position he has never played for France before. Romain Ntamack will occupy his out-half role instead.
But there are injury concerns over Jalibert who missed training sessions this week with a calf niggle.
“He’ll have a full test tomorrow during the captain’s run at the stadium,” Galthie said. “Then we’ll make the decision based on how he feels.”
Should Jalibert be ruled out, La Rochelle’s Antoine Hastoy would likely start instead.
Five of the seven players brought into the team featured in the Top 14 final between Toulouse and Montpellier late last month including hooker Peato Mauvaka who scored twice.
He is part of a revamped second row with Montpellier’s Florian Verhaeghe and Toulouse giant Emmanuel Meafou.
Montpellier flanker Lenni Nouchi and teammate Ntamack at No.10 were also absent against New Zealand.
Stade Français prop Moses Alo-Emile and Pau winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang are the others who come in.
France are without record try-scorer Damian Penaud who was injured against New Zealand and has returned home.
New Zealand (v Italy)
Replacements:
Australia (v France)
Replacements:
France (v Australia)
Replacements:
– © AFP 2026
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