Chiefs halfback Cortez Ratima is poised to make his All Blacks debut after being named on the bench for the second test against England at Eden Park on Saturday.
Ratima has been promoted to the match-day squad after 81-test veteran TJ Perenara was ruled out of contention with a knee injury suffered in their 16-15 victory in the first test last weekend.
Finlay Christie, who replaced Perenara at halftime, will start in the No. 9 jersey in the only change to the starting 15.
Uncapped halfback Cortez Ratima is in line to make his All Blacks debut off the bench.
It will be Christie’s first test start since the All Blacks’ 23-20 win over Australia in August last year.
The rest of the squad remains unchanged with new coach Scott Robertson opting for consistency.
Saturday is going to be massive! Eden Park, we are back! ✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/PNygaMAFU6
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) July 11, 2024
Ratima was one of five uncapped players named in the first All Blacks squad of 2024.
The 23-year-old was selected after a breakout Super Rugby Pacific season with beaten finalists the Chiefs.
Robertson says Finlay has worked hard and earned his place in the starting side and it will be a proud day for Cortez and his whānau as he’s a talented young man who is ready for test footy.
Blindside flanker Samipeni Finau has been cleared to play after needing an HIA in Dunedin, while Stephen Perofeta has earned himself another start at fullback, keeping Beauden Barrett on the bench for the second test in a row.
All Blacks: Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett (vc), Mark Tele'a, Damian McKenzie, Finlay Christie, Ardie Savea (vc), Dalton Papali'i, Samipieni Finau, Patrick Tuipulotu, Scott Barrett (c), Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot; Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Tupou Vaa'i, Luke Jacobson, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Beauden Barrett.
[Source: stuff.nz.co]
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