Australia will be looking to break one of the longest droughts in Australian rugby when they face-off against the All Blacks in the opening game of the Bledisloe Cup series.
The Wallabies, who have won just 12 series compared to the All Blacks' 46, have lost 15 straight Bledisloe Cups and haven't lifted the trophy since 2002.
Sydney is also an unhappy hunting ground for the Wallabies who were walloped 54-34 last year and 42-8 in 2016.
The Wallabies’ last win in a Sydney Bledisloe contest was 27-19 on August 8, 2015.
In their last five Bledisloe Cup contests in Sydney, Australia has won 2, drawn 1 and lost 2.
After suffering a hamstring injury in the June Test series against the Irish, the Wallabies welcome back Michael Hooper (pictured above) with the inspirational skipper to start the match.
Season-ending injuries, however, to centres Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani are setbacks for the Wallabies, but Michael Cheika has faith in Rebels utilityReece Hodge, 23, to fill the void as a makeshift outside centre.
Despite speculation Israel Folau would be shifted into the midfield, the 29-year-old will remain at fullback.
Jack Maddocks will make his test debut off the bench while Tom Robertson comes into the starting side to replace injured prop Scott Sio who has failed to overcome a shoulder injury.
Every Bledisloe Cup game is an important one but with game 3 of the series at a neutral venue, it’s a massive opportunity for the Wallabies to break their Bledisloe Cup drought by going 1-0 up in the series.
Game 2 is at Eden Park, Auckland, where the Wallabies haven’t tasted victory since 1986 while game 3 is in Yokohama, Japan.
The All Blacks though, are a beast of their own and their thumping victories over the Wallabies in the last two Bledisloes in Sydney reaffirms their dominance.
Australia has won just two of their last 10 matches against the all-conquering All Blacks and while they triumphed in their last match in Brisbane last year, it was a dead rubber and Steve Hansen’s men will be hellbent on revenge.
Hooper back is a massive inclusion for Australia but the All Blacks also have some returning firepower and they’ll continue Australia’s Bledisloe Cup misery.
Unibet Odds: Australia 4.60 New Zealand 1.20
Tip: New Zealand
Line tip: Australia +13.5 (1.67)
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