19 Oct 2017

Barrett out for final Bledisloe clash

From Morning Report, 7:44 am on 19 October 2017

The All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has named his strongest possible side for this weekend's final Bledisloe Cup clash against the Wallabies in Brisbane. As expected star first-five Beauden Barrett has been ruled out with concussion issues, with Lima Sopoaga to get a rare start. There's no reserve playmaker on the bench, with fullback Damian McKenzie to cover first-five. Waisake Naholo replaces the injured Nehe Milner-Skudder on the right wing, while halfback TJ Perenara and midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown come onto the bench. Hansen says it was an easy team to pick. RNZ's rugby reporter Joe Porter has the details.