Star returns as All Blacks change five for Scotland
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has named his team to play Scotland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in Edinburgh on Saturday in Round Four of the Nations Championship.
The team includes five changes to the match-day 23 that played Australia in Sydney, two of them in the starting side.
Prop Ethan de Groot starts at loosehead and Jordie Barrett returns from injury at centre. Asafo Aumua, Christian Lio-Willie and Anton Segner also enter the 23 as impact players.
De Groot will be joined by Captain, Codie Taylor, and Fletcher Newell in the front row. Locks Scott Barrett and Fabian Holland form the second row, and Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi make up the loose forward trio.
Cam Roigard starts at halfback and Damian McKenzie at flyhalf, with Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea in the midfield.
Wings Josh Moorby and Will Jordan and fullback Beauden Barrett complete the back three.
Joining Aumua, Lio-Willie and Segner on the bench are props George Bower and Pasilio Tosi, scrumhalf Cortez Ratima, midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai and back Rieko Ioane.
The All Blacks will wear their white jersey featuring a poppy in recognition of Armistice Day, along with black armbands in memory of All Blacks Head of Security Logan Cadwallader who passed away suddenly while in Edinburgh on Sunday morning.
“It’s been a really tough week for our group following the passing of Logan,” Rennie said.
“He was one of us, and he will be very much in our thoughts as we take the field on Saturday. The boys have leaned on each other and prepared well, so we’re ready to go – we know that is what Logan would want and expect.
“Scotland are a quality side. They are very well coached and have built a lot of depth over recent years. 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,” Rennie said.
New Zealand: 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, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacement: 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.
Date: Saturday, November 7
Venue: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 14.10 (14.10 GMT; 3.10 Sunday, November 8 NZT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy) & Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
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