All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has named a powerful lineup for Saturday’s Nations Championship Test against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Rennie has made just two changes to the starting XV that beat the Wallabies in Sydney, with loosehead prop Ethan de Groot and inside centre Jordie Barrett returning from injury.
De Groot joins captain Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell in the front row, while Scott Barrett and Fabian Holland continue their second-row partnership.
With Ardie Savea still unavailable, Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi form an unchanged loose trio.
Damian McKenzie retains the No 10 jersey, as Richie Mo’unga remains sidelined, with Cam Roigard at scrumhalf.
Jordie Barrett partners Quinn Tupaea in midfield, Josh Moorby and Will Jordan start on the wings, and Beauden Barrett continues at fullback.
Rennie has also recalled hooker Asafo Aumua and loose forwards Christian Lio-Willie and Anton Segner to the bench.
“Scotland are a quality side. They are very well coached and have built a lot of depth over recent years,” Rennie said.
“They play a very similar brand of footy to us and we know we’ll need to be at our best on Saturday. Murrayfield is an iconic place to play so it will be a special occasion to kick off our northern tour.”
BEAV: All Blacks to outscore Boks
The All Blacks have won all three of their Nations Championship matches but sit second in the southern hemisphere standings behind the Springboks on points difference, with both teams on 15 log points.
ALL BLACKS – 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 Ethan de Groot.
Bench: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Christian Lio-Willie, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Rieko Ioane.
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
The post All Blacks’ strongest to face Scots appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has named a powerful lineup for Saturday’s Nations Championship Test against Scotland at Murrayfield.
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