Rodney So'oialo returns to the All Black back-row for their Tokyo showdown with the Wallabies © Getty Images

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So'oialo returns for All Blacks

Matches: Australia 19 - 32 New Zealand

Players/Officials: Adam Ashley-Cooper | Berrick Barnes | Robbie Deans | Rocky Elsom | Matt Giteau | Steve Hansen | Graham Henry | Richie McCaw | James O'Connor | Rodney So'oialo

Tournaments/Tours: Australia tour | New Zealand tour | Bledisloe Cup

Teams: Australia | New Zealand

The Bledisloe Cup is on the road again. After a quick stop in Hong Kong last year, one of rugby's greatest rivalries will be rekindled at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium this weekend as Australia and New Zealand go head-to-head.

The Springboks claimed the Tri-Nations in some style, with the All Blacks and Wallabies very much trailing in their wake. Robbie Deans' Australia were the only side to defeat South Africa but lost all three Tests against the All Blacks to finish rock bottom in the final reckoning.

They have one more chance to salvage their season, beginning on Saturday. They desperately need a morale-boosting win ahead of their Grand Slam tour attempt, which begins against England at Twickenham on November 7.

Berrick Barnes has joined Stirling Mortlock on the sidelines for the game after rolling his ankle in training, leaving Matt Giteau as the sole kicking option, in a major blow to their hopes. Adam-Ashley Cooper shifts from fullback to No.12 with James O'Connor slotting in at fullback after originally being named on the bench.

In the pack, there is no place for the veteran George Smith. The Test centurion has been shunted to the bench by David Pocock, who joins new skipper Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Palu in a back-row that will want to hit the ground running.

Their opponents have had problems of their own in the build-up. A re-shuffling of coaching duties has dominated the press speculation ahead of the game. Steve Hansen has shifted focus from the forwards to attack, Wayne Smith from attack to defence and Graham Henry from defence to forwards.

Henry has been tasked with rescuing their abysmal Tri-Nations lineout and has handed Tom Donnelly his second Test cap in a second-row also containing Brad Thorn. Andrew Hore remains at hooker as Neemia Tialata and Tony Woodcock complete the front-row.

Veteran No.8 Rodney So'oialo has displaced Kieran Read from the back-row. The versatile Read has been out injured for recent rounds of the Air New Zealand Cup, giving So'oialo the chance to re-ignite his international career after a stuttering season. Richie McCaw will have his eyes firmly set on Pocock and Adam Thomson is again rewarded for his recent good form with a start in his preferred No.6 jersey.

So'oialo's cause was helped by going back to basics in the Air New Zealand Cup, playing several games to help Wellington in to the quarter-finals.

"It helped me get excited again," So'oialo said. "The love for the game nearly went away. But going back to the Air New Zealand Cup and realising what the black jersey really means to me, it really opened up my eyes."

Henry has stirred the hornet's nest ahead of the game by querying the omission of Smith, who he described as "world class".

"Smith is an outstanding international footballer and it is a wee bit of a surprise to us. But we're not working with that team," he said. "We've got enough challenges of our own, without trying to pick the Australian team.

"When you make changes it adds an extra edge. You can't do it every week but it does bring something to the team. "We made a number of changes for Wellington and I thought that brought an extra edge. I'm sure Robbie is hoping that will occur here also."

In a late switch for the All Blacks, Hawke's Bay flyer Zac Guildford replaces Wellington utility Tamati Ellison on the bench, who was ruled out by medical staff following today's captain's run at the National Stadium. The uncapped Ellison strained a calf muscle in training and hasn't recovered in time. It will cap an emotional return to Japan for Guildford, 20, whose father Robert died of a heart attack in the grandstand as his son's team beat England in the junior World Cup final in Tokyo in June.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitivenu Sivivatu; Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Brad Thorn, Tom Donnelly, Adam Thomson, Richie McCaw (capt), Rodney So'oialo

Replacements: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Jason Eaton, Kieran Read, Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald, Tamati Ellison

Australia: James O'Connor; Peter Hynes, Ryan Cross, Adam-Ashley Cooper, Digby Ioane; Matt Giteau, Will Genia; Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Mark Chisholm, Rocky Elsom (capt), David Pocock, Wycliff Palu

Replacements: Stephen Moore, Matt Dunning, Dean Mumm, George Smith, Luke Burgess, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper