Wallabies

Fardy has started in all but one Test since Cheika took over the national coaching job, a crucial part of the Wallabies’ run to a World Cup final, and will come off the bench for the Bledisloe clash.

The Brumbies flanker has been replaced in the side by Ben McCalman, set to start his first Test since running on at number eight in last year’s World Cup quarter-final.

“Something we really want to build in our team is mental toughness,” he said.

“We didn't have that in the past and we've been working hard on it over the last 12-15 months, 18 months now I suppose and we want to continue to build that, so it's something that when a new player comes into the squad he really feels.”

Cheika said the hole the Wallabies found themselves in now presented them with a choice.

RNZ reports Barrett played a leading role in guiding the Hurricanes to their maiden Super Rugby title and that form has been rewarded with the playmaker usurping Cruden, who was the All Blacks first-choice first-five in the June test series against Wales.

Chiefs hooker Nathan Harris will start in the number 2 jersey as Dane Coles continues to recover from the rib injury that he played through in the Super Rugby final.

Sam Cane has retained his place at openside, with the in-form Ardie Savea to be used off the bench.

There are four uncapped players in the current squad - Reece Hodge, Lopeti Timani, Allan Alaalatoa and Tom Robertson - and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said he wouldn’t be counting them out of the Bledisloe.

“There might be a chance there somewhere in the 23, like a genuine chance,” he said.

“It really comes down to what we think is the best combination for the starting team and what'll happen, then that'll decide how the finishers look.

“There's a genuine possibility that someone could, it just depends on the mix that we go with in the starting team.”

Giteau has been absent as the bulk of the Wallabies squad began their Rugby Championship preparations in Sydney this week.

Giteau has remained in France to start training with Toulon where owner Mourad Boudjellal has maintained a hard-lined stance over his international stars playing test rugby.

It marked England's first series win on Australian turf, but it was the turf itself that was the biggest talking point as the pitch more closely resembled a sand pit at times.

England had won the first Test 39-28 in Brisbane last week to set up the series victory.

Despite assurances from ground staff in the lead-up to the Test, the sub-standard turf failed to hold up for even the first scrum.

Pocock, whose contract with the Australian Rugby Union expires at the end of the year, is expected to make a decision on his future in the next couple of weeks. The 27-year-old is considering taking a sabbatical from rugby to study at an overseas university, but is understood to be open to the possibility of playing in England, having enjoyed his time in the country during the World Cup.

The 32-year-old hooker came through the junior ranks at the Reds before moving to the Brumbies in 2009 and has played 102 times for the Canberra-based side, matching exactly his tally of test caps.

A statement released by the Brumbies said the 2016 season would be Moore's last with the team "following his decision to re-join the Queensland Reds".

Pocock starts at number eight with Hooper at seven - just as they did in the win over New Zealand in August.

Toulon's Matt Giteau, who is available after the Australian Rugby Union relaxed rules over overseas-based players in April, starts at centre.

Will Genia is preferred to Nick Phipps at scrum-half and wins his 61st cap.