All Blacks flyhalf Richie Mo’unga will make his first appearance of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour against the Lions at Ellis Park on Tuesday.
New Zealand drew first blood in the opening Test of the series with a 33-16 victory over the Springboks in Johannesburg on Saturday evening.
The Kiwis will look to make it a clean sweep of the South African clubs before next Saturday’s rematch at Cape Town Stadium, after beating the Stormers (38-21), Sharks (54-0) and Vodacom Bulls (50-19) over the last 16 days in the Republic.
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Head coach Dave Rennie has named two players in his match 23 who did duty against the Boks to tackle the Pride – loose forward Peter Lakai and outside back Anton Lienert-Brown take up spots on a 5-3 bench split.
Also named among the replacements is prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi and lock Jamie Hannah, who joined the squad as injury cover for Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord respectively.
Mo’unga will start at 10 alongside scrumhalf Noah Hotham, who makes his first appearance of the tour.
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Two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Beauden Barrett is at fullback, with Fehi Fineanganofo and Emoni Narawa on the wings. The versatile Rieko Ioane and Timoci Tavatavanawai will combine in midfield.
Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa gears up to pack down at No 8 with Wallace Sititi and Ethan Blackadder completing the back row.
Patrick Tuipulotu, who will wear the captain’s armband for the second time on the trip, and Sam Darry link up in the second row, while Pasilio Tosi, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Siale Lauaki form the front row.
ALL BLACKS – 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 11 Emoni Narawa, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Sam Darry, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Siale Lauaki.
Bench: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Saula Mau, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
The post Richie at 10 as All Blacks aim for SA sweep appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
All Blacks flyhalf Richie Mo’unga will make his first appearance of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour against the Lions at Ellis Park on Tuesday.
The post Richie at 10 as All Blacks aim for SA sweep appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
