All Blacks name strong team for Joburg Test

New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson and his co-selectors, assistant coaches Scott Hansen, Jason Holland, Jason Ryan and Tamati Ellison have named their All Black team to play the Springboks in the third match of the 2024 Castle Lager Rugby Championship at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday (5pm kick-off).

Lock Scott Barrett returns to captain the All Blacks for the Test after missing the last two Rugby Championship Tests due to a broken finger. His inclusion is one of three changes to the match-23 that beat Argentina 42-10 at Eden Park.

Sam Cane is named at openside in what will be his 97th Test and first start since the Rugby World Cup final last year, while loose forward Samipeni Finau comes into the team on the bench. Finau’s last Test came during the All Blacks 24-17 win over England at Eden Park in July.

Robertson said: “To play South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the greatest tests you can prepare for; we will embrace the occasion. We have a lot of respect for the Springboks and we are looking forward to what will be an electric atmosphere at an iconic venue.”

Springbok starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt); 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit; 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard.

All Black starting XV: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke; 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 TJ Perenara; 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Ethan Blackadder; 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (capt); 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams. Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Mark Tele’a.