All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has rolled the dice for Saturday’s clash against South Africa in the Greatest Rivalry finale in Baltimore.
His hand was somewhat forced with a string of injures, but he has made seven personnel changes to the starting XV to face the Springboks.
Four changes are injury-related, with Ethan de Groot returning to start after a head injury, while Ethan Blackadder, Patrick Tuipulotu and Anton Lienert-Brown join the starting team after Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea suffered tour-ending injuries.
With Savea unavailable, Codie Taylor returns to the starting XV and also grabs the captains arm band.
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.
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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.”
South Africa are 2-1 up in the four-Test series and will be seeking to claim the series 3-1 at the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens while the All Blacks are hoping to square the first traditional series between the two sides in 30 years.
Boks head coach Rassie Erasmus has made just two changes to the side that defeated New Zealand 29-24 last Saturday in a titanic struggle.
Damian Willemse returns to full-back for the injured Cheslin Kolbe, and scrum-half Morné van den Berg is given his first start in the series
“We feel that the team is well settled and all the players delivered in their respective roles in the last two matches, so we believe selecting the same matchday squad, and naming Damian back in his regular position makes sense,” Erasmus said.
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