Jones leans on youth to revitalise stuttering Wallabies

DUNEDIN: Coach Eddie Jones on Thursday (Aug 3) said the Wallabies are "remodelling" with young players, believing youthful vigour can halt a slump with just five weeks to go until the Rugby World Cup.

Jones has made scrum-half Tate McDermott captain for the Bledisloe Cup Test in Dunedin on Saturday, with three starting changes made to the team trounced 38-7 in Melbourne last week.

By contrast, the All Blacks have retained only three starting players from that game, with coach Ian Foster keen to assess all of his squad, safe in the knowledge the Bledisloe Cup has already been retained.

Just Ardie Savea, Brodie Retallick and Will Jordan remain while Foster has introduced an uncapped trio - winger Shaun Stevenson, flanker Samipeni Finau and replacement back Dallas McLeod.

Captain Sam Cane returns from injury as New Zealand aim to continue their rampant form this season, having notched emphatic wins in the Rugby Championship over Argentina, South Africa and Australia.

Under mounting pressure after losing his first three games in charge, Jones said it was obvious that change was needed and did not rule out the possibility of McDermott leading the Wallabies at the World Cup, having initially named James Slipper and the currently-injured Michael Hooper as co-captains.

"We're definitely remodelling the team. We need to change the team from where we've been and part of it is definitely the leadership aspect," Jones said.

"Tate's captain for this game but then we'll assess it at the end of the tournament and then we go into World Cup mode.

"This has been a period we've been finding out a lot about the team, finding out what's good, what's not so good, where are we strong, where are we not strong.

"The nucleus of any good team going forward