Veteran Taylor to skipper All Blacks against Bulls
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hooker Codie Taylor returns from injury to captain the All Blacks for the first time in his 110th All Blacks match and first match of the tour against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Props Xavier Numia and Tyrel Lomax will also play their first match of the tour.
Six players from the All Blacks team who beat the Sharks 54-0 on Tuesday back up for the Bulls match: lock Josh Lord, loose forward Wallace Sititi, halfbacks Kyle Preston and Cortez Ratima (who are both playing their third game of the tour), midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai and outside back Emoni Narawa.
A total of 14 players named in the 23 to take on the Bulls played in the opening match against the Stormers.
“The Bulls have consistently been South Africa’s best franchise side, making the United Rugby Championship Finals in four of the last five years.
Loftus Versfeld is one of the most formidable rugby grounds in the world, so we are aware of the challenge in front of us and excited at what lies ahead,” Rennie said.
“This is also our final hit-out before the first Test match against the Springboks, so it is an important game for us.
“There is healthy competition for Test spots, so this is another opportunity for players to put their hands up for selection.
“Huge congratulations to Codie on his first All Blacks captaincy. He is a top man and has done a great job leading this tour group.
“This is a proud moment for an All Blacks centurion who has made a massive contribution to this team as a player and a leader,” Rennie said.
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 George Bower, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa
Date: Saturday, August 15
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT; 05.00 Sunday, August 16 NZST)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
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