All Blacks 'buzzing' to get stuck in
Not even a late injury-enforced change is going to derail an All Black team determined to make an early statement in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.
Powerful loose forward Wallace Sititi has been withdrawn from the team for their tour opener against the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday due to a mild illness.
Anton Segner will come into the starting line-up at No.7, and Peter Lakai will move to No.8.
Matchday captain Patrick Tuipulotu said they have been together for a week-and-a-half and Segner should slot in quite comfortably.
With Ardie Savea rested and Codie Taylor managing a calf injury, senior lock Patrick Tuipulotu steps in to lead the team on the field.
Tuipulotu emphasised that they are not taking the provincial fixture lightly, treating the clash with full international intensity.
He made it clear the tourists are braced for heavy physical collisions from an “all-in” Stormers side playing at home.
(WATCH as All Black captain Patrick Tuipulotu fronts up to the media on the eve of his team’s opening tour match…..)
Tuipulotu expressed his ‘massive excitement’ about leading a heavily rotated, new-look squad for the opening match.
“They have a big, physical pack,” the captain said, adding: “It is quite common here in South Africa.
“The big boys are quite keen to get stuck into their line-out mauls, the breakdown and ball carries.”
Tuipulotu noted that the first three non-Test fixtures of the tour provide a vital “buzz within the group”.
“Part of the tour is connecting as a team, with some of the newer guys that haven’t played in the last few weeks needing to get up to speed,” the captain said.
Talking about their tactics against the Stormers, Tuipulotu said they will continue to employ an ‘expansive’ approach.
“Coming up against different opposition, being in South Africa, the collisions will be different to what we have faced so far this year,” he said of an abrasive Stormers pack.
He said the non-Test and midweek games will be tough for the All Blacks, with many players not having played in South Africa before.
“The advantage for us is that we haven’t split into different teams, but stayed together as a group.
“The schedule is quite tough, and there will be some tired bodies.
“We need to front up for a few successive games.
“That is all part of the tour and something we are looking forward to.”
The first three non-Test fixtures of the tour provide every player on tour a chance to put their hand up and build strong depth.
Senior figures like Beauden Barrett and Tuipulotu have been heavily tasked with mentoring the rookies.
Rennie praised how Tuipulotu has taken total ownership of preparing the group, driving their patterns so they can hit the ground running.
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