All Blacks with Fijian links, George Bower and Timoci Tavatavanawai have been named on the bench in their Nations Championship opener against Scotland this Sunday.
Coach Dave Rennie has made five changes to the side that played Australia, with prop Ethan De Groot at loosehead and Jordie Barrett returns from injury at second five-eighth while Asafo Aumua, Christian Lio-Willie and Anton Segner will chime in from a very punchy bench.
De Groot will be joined by Captain, Codie Taylor, and Fletcher Newell in the front row.
Locks Scott Barrett and Fabian Holland once again partner up, with Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi continuing to make up Rennie’s preferred loose forward trio without regular captain Ardie Savea.
Cam Roigard starts at halfback with Damian McKenzie at first five-eighth, Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea stay settled in the midfield.
Josh Moorby and Will Jordan head back to the wings and Beauden Barrett continues his second half of the season selection resurgence with Richie Mo’unga on ice for at least one more week.
Joining Aumua, Lio-Willie and Segner on the bench are props George Bower and Pasilio Tosi, halfback Cortez Ratima, power midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai and experienced outside back Rieko Ioane.
Familiar to the Scottish rugby scene from his tenure as head-coach of Glasgow, Rennie made it clear he was under no illusions about the challenge Scotland present at home.
Rennie says Scotland are a quality side who are very well coached and have built a lot of depth over recent years, and they play a very similar brand of footy to them and they know they will need to be at their best on Saturday.
Scottish mentor Gregor Townsend has named a very experienced squad himself, led by Sione Tuipulotu as one of 10 starting Glasgow Warriors players.
Talented pivot Finn Russell is the most experienced player in Townsend’s 23, preparing for his 96th Scotland cap.
The All Blacks have never lost to Scotland since they first clashed in 1905. Playing each other 33 times, the All Blacks have won 31 tests, with the other two results being draws.
All Blacks: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby, Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard, Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Tupou Vaa’i, Fabian Holland, Scott Barrett, Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor (c), Ethan de Groot.
Reserves: Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Pasilio Tosi, Christian Lio-Willie, Anton Segner, Cortez Ratima, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rieko Ioane.
The All Blacks will play Scotland at 2.10am Sunday at Murrayfield.
Source: stuff.co.nz
