Rennie Names Lineup For FNB Stadium Test vs Springboks
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has named his team to face South Africa in the third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry at FNB Stadium on Saturday, where Tupou Vaa’i will earn his 50th Test cap.
Kick-off is at 17:10, with the Test preceded by a historic first clash on South African soil between the Black Ferns and Springbok Women at 13:30.
There are several changes to the team that played in the second Test last weekend.
Hooker Asafo Aumua will start, with Samisoni Taukei’aho moving to the bench to provide impact.
Sam Darry starts at lock for his 11th Test, while Fabian Holland moves to the bench. Peter Lakai will start at blindside flanker, while Wallace Sititi returns to the match-day 23 and will provide loose-forward impact from the bench in his first Test appearance of the series.
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 also paid tribute to the All Blacks’ huge fan base.
“We’ve really felt the support, not only from our travelling army of Kiwi fans and fans here in South Africa, but also from 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
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)
