Source: All Blacks
All Blacks Head Coach Dave Rennie has named his team to play South Africa in the second Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, presented by Castle Double Malt on August 29 (August 30 NZT), at DHL Stadium, Cape Town.
The match-day 23 features several changes from the team that won the first Test 33-16 in Johannesburg last weekend.
George Bower, who made an impact off the bench last week, comes in for Ethan de Groot who is still undergoing HIA protocols, together with lock Josh Lord.
Tupou Vaa’i (pictured) moves to the second row, replacing Lord, with Simon Parker in the six jersey, while Xavier Numia comes into the 23 providing prop cover, with Patrick Tuipulotu as lock cover.
In the backs, there is just one positional switch from last week’s team, with Leroy Carter and Josh Moorby swapping positions. Carter starts in the 11 jersey and Moorby is outside back cover in the 23 jersey.
Rennie says while the team was happy with the win last week, he thinks both sides will be better this weekend.
“We’ve played four Tests this year and are still growing as a group.
“I’m really excited about the competition for places and the performances of the squad across the matches here in South Africa, and we’re really looking forward to this weekend.”
MATCH FACTS
- The All Blacks have played South Africa 111 times, for 64 wins, 43 losses and four draws. The All Blacks will be playing only their second ever Test match at DHL Stadium, with all ten previous Cape Town Test matches played at the old Newlands Stadium.
- New Zealand has won seven of those 11 Test matches against the Springboks in Cape Town, with the last win nine years ago in October 2017. The last Test in 2024 was a tight 31-27 victory to South Africa.
- Damian McKenzie will be playing his 34th consecutive Test match on Saturday.
- Will Jordan extended his All Blacks try-scoring record to 53 tries last weekend, joining English winger Rory Underwood in sixth place on the men’s international Test try-scoring list. Japanese winger Daisuke Ohata holds the record with 69 tries.
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets)
1. George Bower (27)
2. Codie Taylor (110)
3. Tyrel Lomax (52)
4. Fabian Holland (13)
5. Tupou Vaa’i (48)
6. Simon Parker (9)
7. Luke Jacobson (28)
8. Ardie Savea (110) – Captain
9. Cam Roigard (21)
10. Ruben Love (9)
11. Leroy Carter (8)
12. Jordie Barrett (82)
13. Quinn Tupaea (27)
14. Will Jordan (58)
15. Damian McKenzie (78)
16. Asafo Aumua (23)
17. Xavier Numia (2)
18. Fletcher Newell (38)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (57)
20. Peter Lakai (11)
21. Kyle Preston (2)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (91)
23. Josh Moorby (3)
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