New Zealand has made four changes to its starting lineup for the upcoming Rugby Championship match against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.
Fullback Beauden Barrett and scrumhalf TJ Perenara have been moved to the bench. Injury concerns have forced the All Blacks to make further adjustments. Loose forward Ethan Blackadder is sidelined with a hamstring injury, and winger Caleb Clarke is out with a back issue. Clarke had scored two tries in New Zealand’s narrow 31-27 defeat to South Africa in Johannesburg last weekend.
Will Jordan will start at fullback, with Sevu Reece and Mark Tele’a taking the right and left wing positions, respectively. Cortez Ratima, who will be making only his second start for the All Blacks, replaces Perenara at scrumhalf. Wallace Sititi, who debuted in July, steps in for Blackadder on the blindside of the scrum.
Luke Jacobson is chosen over Samipeni Finau for the replacement flanker spot. New Zealand will keep a 5-3 split between forwards and backs on the bench.
New Zealand Starting XV:
Will Jordan
Sevu Reece
Rieko Ioane
Jordie Barrett
Mark Tele’a
Damian McKenzie
Cortez Ratima
Ardie Savea
Sam Cane
Wallace Sititi
Tupou Vaa’i
Scott Barrett
Tyrel Lomax
Codie Taylor
Tamaiti Williams
Replacements:
Asafo Aumua
Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Fletcher Newell
Sam Darry
Luke Jacobson
TJ Perenara
Anton Lienert-Brown
Beauden Barrett
