Rugby Championship: Pressure on in Bledisloe opener

Australia have endured a tough Rugby Championship campaign to date and now they face a Bledisloe Cup double-header against New Zealand which begins at Accor Stadium, Sydney on Saturday afternoon.

Back-to-back home losses against world champions South Africa were followed by a narrow, morale-lifting 20-19 victory in Argentina.

The second meeting with the Pumas then saw the Wallabies humiliated 67-27 in Santa Fe, as the home side ran in nine tries and left Australia facing a wooden spoon finish in the Rugby Championship this season.

Now they have to focus on the challenge of taking on the All Blacks, who have won all of the last seven meetings between the two teams, in the Bledisloe Cup.

However, New Zealand have also lost three of the four Rugby Championship matches they have played so far this season, being beaten twice in South Africa after stumbling 38-30 against the Pumas in Wellington in their tournament opener.

 . What: Australia v New Zealand, Rugby Championship
. Where: Accor Stadium, Sydney
. When: 15:45 (AEST), Saturday 21st September
. How to watch: Stan Sport
. Odds: Australia 5.00, New Zealand 1.16, Tie 34.00

Slipper landmark could be overshadowed

There is plenty on the line for the Wallabies back on home soil, with head coach Joe Schmidt admitting: "We've acknowledged the poor finish to our time in Argentina and we're keen to turn that around."

And the occasion will be even more special as prop James Slipper has been named among the replacements and is set to win a record 140th Test cap for the Wallabies.

Schmidt has opted to make a raft of changes following the dismal showing in Santa Fe, with Nic White and Noah Lolesio forming the halfback partnership.

The fit-again duo of centre Hunter Paisami and fullback Tom Wright also return in the backline, while Fraser McReight has earned a start at flanker.

One area where Schmidt has stuck to his guns is in an unchanged front five of Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell, Nick Forst and Jeremy Williams.

The Wallabies are 5.00 to pull off a shock victory, with the fit-again Wright 3.80 to score a try at anytime, while Marika Koroibete is 2.85 in the same market, having yet to cross the whitewash in the tournament.

Barrett returns among All Blacks changes

New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson has been handed three injury boosts for this game, with Ethan de Groot recovering from a neck injury to take his place in the front tow, while Beauden Barrett and Caleb Clarke return among the backline.

Robertson is well aware of what is on the line, with the All Blacks having held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003 and he is in no mood to be the coach who sees it handed over to their great rivals.

He told reporters: "The Bledisloe Cup is so revered by both of these teams, we are expecting a classic showdown.

"We recognise that history does not bestow any rights. The Bledisloe Cup is always hard-earned and each year is its own chapter in the story."

And, while Schmidt is under scrutiny for the Wallabies' struggles, the same can be said of Robertson, who has seen the bid for a fifth straight Rugby Championship title fall to pieces.

His side are hot fancies at 1.16 to take the win in Sydney, while they are 1.57 to open the scoring, with the recalled Clarke 1.83 to score a try at anytime.