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While the official announcement came on Friday, a day after the Herald published the starting XV, Rennie informed players last Sunday what the run-on team would be.

They were sworn to secrecy until Friday’s confirmation of a match-day 23 featuring four rookies at Test level, three intelligent veterans in the crucial 9-10-12 channel, sprinkled with hungry players that have been picked on form.

There's Wilson, the bullish back-rower who has featured at No.8 for the Reds this year but will instead start at No.6, lining up alongside fellow teammates Paisami (outside-centre) and Daugunu (wing).

“Harry has been a real standout: a big ball-carrier and aggressive defensively,” Rennie said. "We were keen to have him and (No.8) Pete Samu on the park because they provide a point of difference.”

Asked why Wilson had been named at No.6 instead of at the back of the scrum, Rennie replied: “We decided with Pete’s pace, it gives us a weapon off the back of the scrums. There’s not a lot of difference between those two spots.”

Rennie confirmed that Jordan Petaia’s exclusion, due to injury, provided Paisami with a chance at No.13, where he will mark All Blacks star Rieko Ioane.

“Hunter is an aggressive ball-carrier and really destructive defensively,” Rennie said. “And Filipo is a real handful. He can beat people in a phone box ... [and is] great post-tackle.”

Dane Haylett-Petty was also ruled out due to a groin injury, giving fullback Tom Banks a chance to impress for the first time since last year’s World Cup warm-up against Samoa.

The rise, fall and rise again story of James O’Connor continues. Eleven years after running out in his first Bledisloe, the 30-year-old will wear the coveted gold No.10 jersey, but may be replaced later in the match by an uncapped 20-year-old, Brumbies playmaker Noah Lolesio.

Michael Hooper and Marika Koroibete are the only remaining figures from Australia’s run-on side in the World Cup quarter-final loss to England in October last year.