All Blacks pick best to front Springboks
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has selected the strongest possible match 23 from those players available to play the Springboks in Cape Town.
Hansen rotated the touring squads for Argentina and South Africa but it’s the current first team squad that will be at Newlands on Saturday.
The All Blacks have already won the Rugby Championship, but Hansen said he expected a huge challenge from a ‘hurting Springboks side’.
He said he thought about starting with Lima Sopoaga at flyhalf and using Beauden Barrett off the bench. He then added that when you have the best flyhalf in the game you may as well use him from the outset.
There are five changes to the run on XV that started in the 36-10 win against Argentina.
Hurricanes winger Nehe Milner-Skudder replaces Waisake Naholo on the right wing; Ryan Crotty resumes at centre for Anton Lienert-Brown. Sam Cane starts ahead of Matt Todd and veteran Sam Whitelock is back in place of Luke Romano. Liam Squire is again the preferred option at blindside flank.
There are also changes among the substitutes with scrumhalf TJ Perenara dropping out the match 23 and Tawera Kerr-Barlow preferred.
‘We’re playing a team that will be hurting incredibly after Albany I’d suggest. We need to make sure we meet that and continue growing and developing ourselves. To do that you’ve got to pick a good team. Whilst we’ve left some people out and we could have given some a rest there’s a bigger picture and we know where we are going with the rest.’
There is only one enforced changed to the run on side that beat the Springboks 57-0 in Albany.
Hansen because of injury, loss of form and unavailability, has picked a starting team that shows seven changes to the one that started the first Test of the British and Irish Lions series.
All Blacks
Damian McKenzie, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Liam Squire, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Kane Hames
Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Matt Todd, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, David Havili
