Damian McKenzie has been named at fly-half for New Zealand’s All Blacks in the first Test against Australia tomorrow, with veteran Beauden Barrett selected at full-back. The lineup adjustment comes amid a series of injuries that have affected the squad ahead of the opening match of the Bledisloe Cup.

Ruben Love, who was sidelined earlier in the season following an ankle injury, remains unavailable. Richie Mo’unga, another key player often preferred at fly-half, sustained a calf muscle injury during Tuesday’s training session, ruling him out of selection. As a result, McKenzie and Barrett—both typically positioned as fullbacks—will share playmaking responsibilities for the fixture.

The changes follow New Zealand’s recent 3-1 series defeat to the reigning World Cup champions, South Africa. The All Blacks are expected to rely on a mix of experience and versatility as they face Australia in this highly anticipated encounter.

On the bench, scrum-half Kyle Preston, center Rieko Ioane, and wing Josh Moorby have been named to provide backline reinforcement during the match. The team’s backline composition reflects efforts to balance depth and adaptability in response to the injury challenges.

The first Test of the 2026 Bledisloe Cup series will be held tomorrow, marking a significant contest as New Zealand seeks to rebound from their recent series loss and claim early momentum against their trans-Tasman rivals.