Mo'unga gets the nod as All Blacks reveal team for final Bok clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has revealed his team for the final Test in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against the Springboks in Baltimore.
The team includes several changes to the side that played in Soweto, Johannesburg last weekend, with Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea all ruled out with injury and Fabian Holland also unavailable due to illness.
Prop Fletcher Newell, lock Patrick Tuipulotu, loose forward Ethan Blackadder, flyhalf Richie Mo’unga and centre Anton Lienert-Brown will all make their first Test starts of the series.
In other changes to the 23, prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord both return for the first time since leaving the field in the first Test, having progressed through the World Rugby concussion protocols.
Codie Taylor returns as starting hooker and will captain the side, while Asafo Aumua shifts to the reserves. Tighthead props Fletcher Newell and Tyrel Lomax also switch this week, with Newell taking the starting spot.
With Patrick Tuipulotu coming in to partner Sam Darry at lock, Tupou Vaa’i shifts back to blindside flanker to join Peter Lakai and Ethan Blackadder in the loose forward trio.
Josh Moorby takes the left wing, and Rieko Ioane and Beauden Barrett both enter the 23 as backs cover.
“We always planned for there to be a number of changes for this match. Every player here has worked incredibly hard over the last seven weeks to prepare the team for the seven games we’ve played so far, and all those selected for this Test fully deserve it,” Rennie said.
“We have everything to play for on Saturday. It is our chance to draw the series and end the tour with a performance to be proud of.
“We have had incredible support travelling with us throughout the tour and amazing support back at home. We want to put in a performance that shows how much we appreciate that. We also want to honour the players and management who have returned home early but contributed so much.”
New Zealand: 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 (captain), 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Beauden Barrett.
Date: Saturday, September 12
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
Kick-off: 17.00 EDT (23.00 SAST; 21.00 GMT; 09.00 NZST Sunday, September 13)
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
Register your interest to receive priority updates on RWC27 ticket releases. Don't miss out, stay in the loop!
