Wallabies hope ‘Rodzilla’ can add power in clash with All Blacks

AUSTRALIA have called up hulking prop Rodney ‘Rodzilla’ Blake to face the All Blacks in Brisbane on Saturday, the only change to the side that handed South Africa a record thrashing two weeks ago.

While the Wallabies trounced South Africa 49-0, coach John Connolly said Australia faced a tough challenge against an All Blacks team that beat his side 32-12 in Christchurch earlier this month.

“They have incredible depth and had a convincing win over us in Christchurch followed by another impressive performance against South Africa,” he said.

“There’s no doubt they are the benchmark in world rugby at the present time.”

The game is a must-win for Australia if they want to level this year’s three-Test Bledisloe Cup series and set up a decider in Auckland next month.

A win would also keep them within touching distance of the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations competition.

The addition of Blake brings Australia up to full strength and Connolly will be looking to the 130kg, two-Test novice to add stability to a scrum that was humiliated in the opening Bledisloe Cup match.

Blake will pack down alongside veteran hooker Jeremy Paul, who was recalled to the Australian side after the last New Zealand game when rookie Tai McIsaac’s inexperience was ruthlessly exposed by the All Blacks.

Lightning fast outside centre Matt Giteau will also make his first Bledisloe Cup appearance of the year, after missing the first match with injury.

Connolly named number eight Scott Fava to start for the second time.

Australia will be defending a 10-year unbeaten run at Brisbane’s Lang Park, where the All Blacks were the last team to defeat them in 1996.

AUSTRALIA: C Latham, M Gerrard, S Mortlock, M Giteau, L Tuqiri, S Larkham, G Gregan (capt); S Fava, G Smith, R Elsom, D Vickerman, N Sharpe, R Blake, J Paul, G Holmes.

Replacements : T McIsaac, A Baxter, G Shepherdson, M Chisholm, P Waugh, W Palu, S Cordingley, M Rogers, C Rathbone.