Beauden Barrett will captain the All Blacks for the first time in his 149th test after being retained for Sunday’s Nations Championship clash against Wales in Cardiff, with Richie Mo’unga returning from injury at first five-eighth and Leicester Fainga’anuku named in a 6-2 split bench.
With England up next weekend, the Wales test is the All Blacks’ final opportunity to rotate before facing one of their biggest rivals. But they must also balance freshening up the squad with the need for a convincing win to strengthen their push for a place in the Nations Championship final.
They have made 10 changes to their match-day 23, including eight to the starting XV
Mo’unga hasn’t featured since the fourth test against the Springboks in Baltimore, with a calf tear ruling him out of the Bledisloe Cup tests and delaying his return to the No 10 jersey since coming back from Japan.
He replaces Damian McKenzie, who is rested after a heavy workload and a string of impressive performances at first five-eighth, while Ruben Love remains sidelined following season-ending ankle surgery.
With two playmakers in the starting XV and only two specialist backs on the bench, Josh Jacomb misses out and must continue to wait for his test debut.
Barrett is one of seven starters retained from last weekend’s 43-21 win over Scotland, alongside prop Fletcher Newell, lock Scott Barrett, loose forwards Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi, winger Josh Moorby and centre Quinn Tupaea.
The veteran fullback takes over the captaincy with Codie Taylor rested, having been preferred to his brother Scott, who led the All Blacks under former coach Scott Robertson.
Barrett’s appointment is another sign of his growing importance to the team, having established himself in the starting XV since Love’s season-ending ankle injury. Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson and Patrick Tuipulotu have also captained the side this year but are not with the squad.
George Bower and Asafo Aumua join the front row, Josh Lord partners Scott Barrett in the second row and Anton Segner makes his first test start at blindside flanker.
Cortez Ratima replaces Cam Roigard at halfback, with Kyle Preston on the bench, still waiting for his first test start.
Anton Lienert-Brown starts at second five-eighth in place of Jordie Barrett, who has been rested after taking a head knock against Scotland. Timoci Tavatavanawai misses out on the match-day 23 entirely.
Hurricanes try machine Fehi Fineanganofo gets a rare opportunity on the right wing, earning his first test start and just his second appearance with Will Jordan sidelined by a hamstring injury. Fineanganofo made his debut against France in July.
Ethan de Groot, Fabian Holland, Tupou Vaa’i and Christian Lio-Willie also drop out of the 23, with George Bell, Xavier Numia, Pasilio Tosi, Jamie Hannah, Ethan Blackadder and Fainga’anuku coming onto the bench.
The All Blacks take on Wales at 2.10am Sunday.
Source: stuff.co.nz
