18 Oct 2012

Milestones for both All Blacks and Wallabies

9:58 am on 18 October 2012

A couple of milestones should lift both the All Blacks and Wallabies in Saturday night's third Bledisloe Cup test in Brisbane.

Hooker Keven Mealamu will start in what will be his 100th test, joining Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina as All Black centurions.

In the only other change to the All Blacks, prop Charlie Faumuina will get his first start with Owen Franks now on the bench.

Meanwhile opposition lock Nathan Sharpe will wear the Wallaby jersey for the last time on Australian soil.

The 34-year-old, who has played 111 tests for Australia, will hang up his boots after their end of year European tour.

Because of injuries Sharpe has twice delayed his retirement. He started his Super Rugby career in Queensland in 1999 before heading to the Western Force in 2006.