Akira Ioane and Dalton Papali’i are determined to make a positive impact when they line up for the All Blacks in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies in Auckland.

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has rung the changes to his matchday squad and the Blues flankers have been called up to the run-on side as replacements for the injured Scott Barrett and captain Sam Cane while Ardie Savea returns at number eight in place of Hoskins Sotutu.

That back-row has an exciting look to it and there will be lots of expectation from All Blacks fans for the trio to hit the ground running at Eden Park, a venue where the All Blacks have not lost at for 28 years.

“I’m looking forward to what we can do on Saturday night,” said Papali’i.

Australia came desperately close to beating New Zealand in the first Bledisloe Cup Test in Melbourne last week before a late Jordie Barrett try secured the All Blacks a narrow 39-37 victory.

Ioane, who came off the replacements bench in Melbourne, was impressed by the Wallabies‘ loose forwards in that encounter and said as a changed combination, they had to focus on doing their jobs for the All Blacks.

By doing that, Ioane and Papali’i would allow returning Savea to play in the manner that made him one of the world’s best back-rowers.

Grateful to return to starting XV

Ioane is grateful to be back in the starting line-up and acknowledged that Shannon Frizell and Scott Barrett, who are competing with him for the All Blacks’ number six jersey, have been playing well this season.

“You can’t be mad at the coaches for that. I’ve just got to take my opportunities this week, give my best for the team and do my job,” he said.

The All Blacks have had some indifferent results in 2022 and Papali’i believes the losses they suffered have been a blessing in disguise.

They came into a team with a winning mentality but suffering defeats this year was a new experience for the younger players to cope with and something those players, and All Blacks supporters, were not used to.

“It’s us finding our feet again with a lot of new blood coming in and some boys getting more opportunities,” he said. “I think it’s more of a wake-up call. This is Test footy. This is the best of the best, and you can’t leave any stone unturned training-wise.

“You’ve got to nail your one and two percenters off field leading into games and that is where it all matters. I think it has been a good learning curve for us.”

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