Five Hurricanes will play for the All Blacks in the side's final Rugby Championship match of the year when they face the Wallabies in Perth this weekend.
Cam Roigard, Jordie Barrett, Peter Lakai, Pasilio Tosi, and Ruben Love have all been named in the match day squad for Saturday's clash at Optus Stadium, which acts as the final match of the Rugby Championship for both the All Blacks and the Wallabies.
Fresh from his injury comeback during last week's 33-24 win over Australia in Auckland, two-try hero Roigard has retained his place at halfback, where he has been named in the starting lineup alongside All Blacks vice-captain Barrett and loose forward Lakai.
Barrett's selection at second-five means he will have started every match of the Rugby Championship campaign, while Lakai is primed to start for the All Blacks for the first time in his four-test career after making his first appearance of the year for the national side from the bench last weekend.
Elsewhere, Tosi and Love rejoin the match day squad after being named in the reserves. Tosi's last All Blacks outing coming during their loss to Argentina in August, while Love will provide cover at first-five and fullback in just his fourth test after last featuring in last month's defeat to the Springboks in Wellington.
Tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax has been listed as unavailable due to injury after scans revealed that he broke his thumb during last week's test against the Wallabies.
Of the five Hurricanes players involved in this weekend's test, only Barrett has played at the 65,000-capacity Optus Stadium, when he scored a try during the All Blacks' 38-21 win over the Wallabies during the 2021 Rugby Championship.
The other four players will play their first test matches in Perth, with Lakai and Love set to make their first test appearances on Australian soil. It will also be Love's Bledisloe Cup debut.
After safely stowing the prized trans-Tasman silverware away for another year at Eden Park last week, the All Blacks head into this weekend's fixture with the Rugby Championship title still up for grabs.
Placed second on the competition table, the All Blacks trail the tournament-leading and reigning champion Springboks by just one point. The Wallabies also remain in the hunt, four points behind South Africa in third spot.
As such, there is plenty to play for in Western Australia on Saturday night, as victory for either the All Blacks or Wallabies could secure them the title, depending on the outcome of the match between South Africa and Argentina at Twickenham early on Sunday morning NZT.
“We saw how competitive and determined the Wallabies were in Auckland last weekend, staying in the fight right to the end,” All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said.
"We expect another tough contest this Saturday. We have picked a 23 to go toe-to-toe with a quality Australian team.
“It's all up for grabs in what has been the most even Rugby Championship we've ever seen; and we're here to cap off this competition with a performance we can be proud of.”
Kick-off for this weekend's test between the All Blacks and Wallabies is scheduled for 10:45pm NZT.
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All Blacks team to play the Wallabies
1. Tamaiti Williams
2. Codie Taylor
3. Fletcher Newell
4. Scott Barrett (c)
5. Tupou Vaa'i
6. Simon Parker
7. Ardie Savea (vc)
8. Peter Lakai
9. Cam Roigard
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Leicester Fainga'anuku
12. Jordie Barrett (vc)
13. Quinn Tupaea
14. Leroy Carter
15. Will Jordan
16. Samisoni Tuakei'aho
17. George Bower
18. Pasilio Tosi
19. Patrick Tuipulotu
20. Wallace Sititi
21. Cortez Ratima
22. Rieko Ioane
23. Ruben Love
