All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has named his team to play South Africa in the third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, presented by Castle Double Malt, on Saturday 5 September at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, where Tupou Vaa’i will earn his 50th Test cap.
Kick-off is at 17:10 SAST and the Test will be preceded by an historic first clash on South African soil between the Black Ferns and Springbok Women at 13:30 SAST.
In changes from the team that played the second Test last weekend, hooker Asafo Aumua will start with Samisoni Taukei’aho coming onto the bench as impact.
Sam Darry starts at lock in his 11th Test, while Fabian Holland moves to the bench. Peter Lakai will start in the six jersey, and Wallace Sititi will make his first Test appearance in the Series, coming into the 23 as loose forward impact.
Rennie said: “Tupes is a top man. It’ll be a special day for him and his family and additional motivation for us.
“With both teams heading into the third Test one apiece, there’s everything to play for on Saturday. The team that doesn’t win this weekend can’t win the series. That’s the kind of challenge we love to rise to.
“The team is feeling fresh after a full week’s lead-in to the game, and we can’t wait to put everything out on the park.”
Rennie has also paid tribute to the All Blacks' huge fanbase: “We’ve really felt the support not only from our travelling army of Kiwi fans and fans here in South Africa, but also the New Zealand public back home. It’s been massive for us, and we look forward to more of the same this weekend.”
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets):
15 Damian McKenzie (79)
14 Will Jordan (59)
13 Quinn Tupaea (28)
12 Jordie Barrett (83)
11 Leroy Carter (9)
10 Ruben Love (10)
9 Cam Roigard (22)
8 Ardie Savea (captain, 111)
7 Luke Jacobson (29)
6 Peter Lakai (12)
5 Sam Darry (10)
4 Tupou Vaa’i (49)
3 Tyrel Lomax (53)
2 Asafo Aumua (24)
1 George Bower (28)
Replacements:
16 Samisoni Taukei’aho (44)
17 Xavier Numia (3)
18 Fletcher Newell (39)
19 Fabian Holland (14)
20 Wallace Sititi (21)
21 Kyle Preston (3)
22 Anton Lienert-Brown (92)
23 Josh Moorby (3)