Two injury-enforced changes in the tight-five, rewards for strong form, and a new-look bench are the features of the All Blacks team to take on the Springboks at Ellis Park on Sunday morning (NZT).
Lock Brodie Retallick (concussion) and prop Wyatt Crockett (facial cuts) have been officially ruled out with Jeremy Thrush, in his second start against the Boks, and Joe Moody, in his maiden test start, respectively promoted.
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Retallick in particular will be a major loss, having just resumed his world-class second-row pairing with Sam Whitelock last week.
His absence also sees Steven Luatua come on to the bench in order to cover lock and blindside flanker.
“Initially we thought he might be alright but he just hasn’t cleared up,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said of the head knock Retallick suffered against the Pumas last week.
“Once we were in 60/40 land we said ‘no we won’t bother’. There’s no point risking him when there’s a few more tests to play this season.”
Moody gets the nod ahead of Ben Franks in leap of faith and hint to the future. The Canterbury loose-head is a highly regarded scrummager but, in just his fifth test, faces a major examination of his credentials.
“He’s progressed well,” Hansen said. “He’s still got a wee way to go. From a professional point of view he hasn’t played a lot of rugby.
“He certainly isn’t phased by too much and enjoys the scrummaging side of the game. He’s pretty mobile as well.”
After a superb performance against the Pumas, veteran hooker Keven Mealamu holds off Dane Coles and Malakai Fekitoa has similarly been rewarded for his impressive display at second five-eighth, altering previous opinion that Ryan Crotty would be handed the start this week.
“Keven played that well he probably deserves to get another start,” Hansen said. “He was outstanding, probably the player of the day.”
Coles’ return after missing the win over the Pumas with the birth of his first baby boy sees rookie Nathan Harris squeezed out.
Ultimately, Fekitoa’s ball carrying abilities and complimentary midfield partnership with Conrad Smith were preferred over Crotty. A Crotty-Smith pairing comparatively features an element of sameness.
The make up of the bench, which will be required to come on and lift the tempo and close out the test, holds intrigue with Colin Slade and Franks the only survivors from last week.
That means openside flanker Sam Cane feels the pinch with both Luatua and Liam Messam included.
Combative halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow gets the chance to make his first appearance of the test season – his last test coming from the bench against England at Twickenham in November – which forces TJ Perenara out of the squad.
Messam also makes his return from a thigh injury to a venue he scored two tries at last year, and tight head prop Charlie Faumuina is back after been handed a three test exile and the message to sharpen his fitness and scrummaging.
“He’s taken on board the things we wanted him to work on. We’ll see the next step in the progress of him evolving into the professional we want him to be.
“There’s no doubt he can play when he’s right. He’s lost weight, he’s fitter than he was so we expect him to go out and play really well.”
All Blacks: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (Captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Liam Messam, 20 Steven Luatua, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Ryan Crotty.