Dave Rennie has dropped two forwards as the All Blacks prepare to face the Wallabies in the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney on Saturday.
The All Blacks coach has made three changes to the starting XV after last weekend’s 50-19 victory at Eden Park secured the Bledisloe Cup for a 24th consecutive time.
Lock Fabian Holland replaces Josh Lord, while George Bower comes in at loosehead prop for Ethan de Groot. Josh Moorby also earns a starting spot on the wing, replacing the injured Leroy Carter, with Rieko Ioane moving to the bench.
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Rennie has made eight changes to his match-23, with Asafo Aumua and Anton Segner ruled out with concussion, while Ethan Blackadder is unavailable with a calf injury.
Hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, prop Xavier Numia, loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi, scrumhalf Cortez Ratima and midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai have been added to the bench.
The All Blacks will again look to veteran Beauden Barrett at fullback and Damian McKenzie at flyhalf, while Cam Roigard retains the scrumhalf role after helping New Zealand dominate the opening Test.
Rennie wants his side to back up their impressive performance as they target a 13th consecutive victory over Australia.
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“Last week was a big week, with it being our first game back on New Zealand soil after a long tour away and the Bledisloe Cup on the line,” Rennie said.
“We put in a performance befitting the occasion. Now we need to back that performance up.”
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 George Bower.
Bench: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Shannon Frizell, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Rieko Ioane.
Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images
The post All Blacks change three for Bledisloe finale appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Dave Rennie has dropped two forwards as the All Blacks prepare to face the Wallabies in the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney on Saturday.
The post All Blacks change three for Bledisloe finale appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
