All Blacks chop and change for Springbok Test in Baltimore

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has included Richie Mo’unga at flyhalf and handed the captaincy to Codie Taylor for the fourth and final Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry in Baltimore on Saturday, 12 September.

Kick-off is at 23:00 (SA time).

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Several changes

The team for the final Test includes several changes to the side that played at FNB Stadium last weekend, with Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea all ruled out with injury, and Fabian Holland also unavailable due to illness.

Along with Mo’unga, prop Fletcher Newell, lock Patrick Tuipulotu, loose forward Ethan Blackadder, and centre Anton Lienert-Brown will all make their first Test starts of the series.

In other changes to the 23, prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord both return since leaving the field in the first Test, having progressed through the World Rugby concussion protocols.

Taylor returns as starting hooker and will captain the side, while Asafo Aumua shifts to the reserves. Tighthead props Fletcher Newell and Tyrel Lomax also switch this week, with Newell taking the starting spot.

With Tuipulotu coming in to partner Sam Darry at lock, Tupou Vaa’i shifts back to blindside flanker to join Peter Lakai and Blackadder in the loose trio.

‘Worked incredibly hard’

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,” Rennie said.

“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

“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.

“We have had incredible support travelling with us throughout the tour and amazing support back at home. We want to put in a performance that shows how much we appreciate that. We also want to honour the players and management who have returned home early but contributed so much.”

The Springboks lead the All Blacks in the four-Test series 2-1.

Prediction

South Africa to win by 12 points

Teams

South Africa

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche

Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok

New Zealand

15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Ethan de Groot

Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Beauden Barrett

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)