All Blacks captain Richie McCaw says Rocky Elsom’s absence this Saturday is big blow for the Wallabies as they strive to win at Auckland’s Eden Park for the first time in 22 years.
Elsom has been ruled out with a foot injury, to be replaced by NSW Waratahs captain Phil Waugh.
Waugh will join fellow breakdown specialist George Smith in the pack, but McCaw said the loss of Elsom will hurt the visitors – who are chasing their sixth straight victory under coach Robbie Deans and their second win over New Zealand in a week.
“He (Elsom) is a big part of the way they operate,” McCaw told News Limited.
“To be honest, you say George Smith is good at the breakdown but Rocky Elsom is pretty damn good as well. He is a big, physical, tough bugger too.
“And he is quick and pretty good with the ball in hand. So with all of those things, he is a bit of a loss for them.
“George Smith had a pretty good game last week.
“I think we allowed him to, you allow loose forwards to have impact when you get isolated at times. We didn’t get the quality of ball we were after. If we do that this week, we have two of them to deal with.
“It has worked for them in the past, and I am sure Phil Waugh will be itching to get a go.”
While the return of McCaw – who missed last week’s Bledisloe Cup opener – will also be a big boost for the home side, All Blacks five-eighth Dan Carter has lamented the loss of New Zealand fullback Leon MacDonald.
MacDonald was set to replace Mils Muliaina in the No.15 jersey to improve New Zealand’s kicking game at the back, but he has failed to recover from a head knock against South Africa last month.
“It is a big loss,” Carter told News.
“Looking at the game last weekend, the Aussies had a lot better territory game and we got caught in our half a lot.
“Their kicking game was a big part of that. So it will be a big loss but it’s just something we have to deal with and hopefully we can improve on last weekend and look to do better in that area.”
All Blacks: Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan/Piri Weepu/Andrew Ellis, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore/Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Hore/Mealumu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson/Daniel Braid, Cowan/Weepu/Ellis, Stephen Donald, Anthony Tuitavake.
Wallabies: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Phil Waugh, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Dan Vickerman, Hugh McMeniman, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell.