Anton Lienert‑Brown's remarkable rise continues.
The 21‑year‑old Cantabrian will start at second five‑eighth for New Zealand in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup clash with Australia in Wellington, in place of the injured Ryan Crotty.
Hardly a household name, Lienert‑Brown's form for the Chiefs saw him called into the All Blacks' Rugby Championship squad and he will now receive the ultimate recognition when he runs onto Westpac Stadium.
Chiefs team‑mate Seta Tamanivalu and rising Blues star Rieko Ioane were the other midfield contenders, but the selectors have opted for a player whose credentials are probably less well‑known.
Starting 15: Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Samuel Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Sam Cane, Kieran Read, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Julian Savea, Anton Lienert‑Brown, Malakai Fekitoa, Israel Dagg and Ben Smith.
The reserves: James Parsons, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Liam Squire, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Aaron Cruden and Seta Tamanivalu.
The All Blacks will host Australia at 7.35pm Saturday.
Source: stuff.co
