WALLABIES vice-captain Berrick Barnes has been ruled out of tomorrow’s Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks after rolling his left ankle at training in Tokyo yesterday.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has made four changes to Australia’s starting side to play Saturday’s historic Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Japan

Luke McAlister will be available for New Zealand’s end of year tour after an MRI scan on his injured ankle confirmed the damage was not as serious as first thought.

The absence of injured duo Luke McAlister and Conrad Smith has left New Zealand's coaches with a selection headache ahead of next month's Tri-Nations Tests against South Africa and Australia.

New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu is to undergo surgery on a ruptured chest muscle and will be out of rugby for at least four months.

Canterbury coach Rob Penney is confident Dan Carter is ready to return to the New Zealand squad for the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia in Sydney in three weeks' time.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named seven new players in his 35-man squad for the autumn tour to Hong Kong and Europe.

WALLABIES coach Eddie Jones has deflected talk that his position is under threat ahead of tomorrow’s pivotal Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup Test with New Zealand in Sydney.