New Zealand has avoided major changes to its starting lineup while selecting a more experimental bench for the second Bledisloe Cup rugby test against Australia on Saturday in Sydney.
Three of the eight changes to the matchday 23 have come in response to injuries as the All Blacks' selectors have mainly obeyed the adage to never change a winning combination.
The backline is altered only by the selection of Josh Moorby on the left wing in place of Leroy Carter, who injured his ankle late in the first test, which New Zealand won 50-19.
Damian McKenzie remains at flyhalf and Beauden Barrett at fullback in the dual playmaker setup that worked efficiently last weekend at Eden Park.
There are two changes in the forward pack where George Bower will start at loosehead in place of Ethan de Groot and Fabian Holland, a surprise omission last weekend, will return at lock for Josh Lord.
On the bench, hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho replaces Asafo Aumua, who has concussion, and DuPlessis Kirifi, who was left out of New Zealand's initial squad for the two-test series, returns in place of the injured Anton Segner.
Cortez Ratima takes over from Kyle Preston as the scrumhalf replacement and the powerful Timoci Tavatavanawai has been called on to make an impact in the centers.
There had been speculation that, having secured the Bledisloe Cup for the 24th year, New Zealand might have more changes with a view to next year's World Cup. But the All Blacks expect the Wallabies to provide stiff opposition at home.
“Last week was a big week with it being our first game back on New Zealand soil after a long tour away and the Bledisloe Cup on the line,” head coach Dave Rennie said. “We put in a performance befitting the occasion. Now we need to back that performance up.
“The Wallabies are a proud side and they'll be hurting after last week. It's a great challenge for us to now face them in front of their home crowd.”
That victory ended New Zealand's three-match losing streak — all in the Greatest Rivalry series against South Africa. For Australia, the loss ended an unbeaten run of six tests, which included a dramatic, upset win over the World Cup champion Springboks.
Injuries have reshaped the Australian backline for the match, forcing a significant change at flyhalf.
Declan Meredith will start at No. 10 in place of Ben Donaldson, who sustained a leg injury during the first test at Auckland. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has been included to make his test debut from the bench as Wallaby No. 1,001.
Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i moves from the wing to outside center in place of Len Ikitau who has a concussion, and Harry Potter returns on the left wing.
There are two changes in the front row where former All Black Aidan Ross will start at loosehead and Josh Nasser, a tryscorer last weekend, is named at hooker.
Among several changes on the Australian bench, Billy Pollard returns to cover hooker and Josh Canham is named as the second row backup. Carlo Tizzano provides backrow cover.
Scrumhalf Kalani Thomas has been selected for his first Bledisloe Cup test as replacement scrumhalf.
The Wallabies scored first and trailed 17-14 at halftime last week before the All Blacks dominated the second half, posting five tries.
“We got a clear picture last weekend of where we need to be better,” Wallabies coach Les Kiss said. “We’ve said all along we’ll continue to work hard and grow our game and the squad has been impressive in the way they have prepared this week.”
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Australia's Len Ikitau, center, looks to split the defence of New Zealand's Jordie Barrett, left, and New Zealand's Tupou Vaa'i during a Bledisloe Cup rugby union test match in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, Oct. 10 2026. (Brett Phibbs/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Leroy Carter, scores a try as Australia's Rob Valetini tackles him during a Bledisloe Cup rugby union test match in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Brett Phibbs/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Beauden Barrett, left, is tackled by Australia's Ryan Lonergan during a Bledisloe Cup rugby union test match in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Shane Wenzlick/Photosport via AP)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell hit back-to-back homers off Blake Snell to regain the lead in the seventh inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 on Wednesday to take a 3-0 lead in the National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers had just taken a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth before getting stunned. The loss pushed the two-time defending World Series champions to the brink of elimination. They had only trailed 3-0 in a best-of-seven postseason series once previously in franchise history, getting swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1966 World Series.
Game 4 is Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
Coming into the seventh, Snell had retired 14 in a row. The first pitch of the game thrown by the two-time Cy Young Award winner was a home run by Jackson Chourio, and his last pitch was Mitchell's solo shot.
Andrew Vaughn drew a seven-pitch walk to open the inning and was replaced by pinch-runner Christian Yelich. Bauers followed with a 412-foot shot to right field on the 11th pitch of the at-bat for a 3-2 lead as most of Milwaukee's dugout came onto the field to celebrate. Mitchell was next and his drive traveled 428 feet to right-center, chasing Snell.
Snell gave up four runs and four hits in six innings, struck out nine and walked two.
The Brewers are on the verge of sweeping the Dodgers in what would be a reversal of last year's NLCS, when the Dodgers eliminated Milwaukee in four games. The Brewers have never beaten the Dodgers in three previous postseason series.
The Brewers extended the lead to 5-2 on Justin Wrobleski's wild pitch that scored Brice Turang, who reached on an infield single to third and moved up on William Contreras' single in the eighth. They added another run on Joey Ortiz's two-strike RBI single in the ninth.
The offensively starved Dodgers took their first lead, 2-1, on Will Smith's two-run double off reliever Abner Uribe in the sixth.
Uribe followed rookie starter Robert Gasser and he loaded the bases on walks to Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker and Shohei Ohtani. Smith, who came in hitting .043, doubled to left-center for his first hit of the NLCS.
DL Hall took over from Uribe, allowing one hit and striking out two before turning it over to Trevor Megill in the eighth.
The Dodgers played from behind again after Snell's leadoff homer to Chourio as fans were still heading to their seats.
After that, Mitchell walked and Cooper Pratt singled in the second before Snell retired 14 in a row — six on strikeouts — before getting hammered in the seventh.
The Dodgers had runners on base in all but three innings, but couldn't get enough across. They have yet to homer in the NLCS.
Ohtani was 1 for 2 with a walk hitting sixth in the order, the lowest he's batted since joining the Dodgers three years ago.
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Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell catches a fly out hit by Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman during the fifth inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell walks off the mound during the seventh inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio watches his solo home run take flight during the first inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell yells towards his dugout after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers connects for a two run home run during the seventh inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
