Hooker Codie Taylor will captain a much-changed New Zealand outfit in the fourth and final Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the Springboks on Saturday.
Taylor takes over the leadership duties from No 8 Ardie Savea, who was injured during last week’s 29-24 defeat to the Boks in Johannesburg, along with flanker Luke Jacobson and outside centre Quinn Tupaea.
The result gave South Africa a 2-1 lead going into this week’s series decider at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium.
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The starting pack features Taylor, Ethan de Groot and Fletcher Newell in the front row, with Patrick Tuipulotu and Sam Darry in the second row. The loose trio consists of Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai and Ethan Blackadder.
Cam Roigard starts at scrumhalf, while Richie Mo’unga wears the No 10 jersey in place of Ruben Love, who has been dropped. Jordie Barrett and Anton Lienert-Brown are in midfield, Josh Moorby and Will Jordan on the wings, and the mercurial Damian McKenzie at fullback.
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has opted for a split of five forwards and three backs on the bench.
Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Kyle Preston, Rieko Ioane and Beauden Barrett will look to make an impact off the wood.
ALL BLACKS – 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 Ethan de Groot.
Bench: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Beauden Barrett.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Codie leads, Richie at 10 for All Blacks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Hooker Codie Taylor will captain a much-changed New Zealand outfit in the fourth and final Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the Springboks on Saturday.
The post Codie leads, Richie at 10 for All Blacks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
