Baltimore (AFP) – Veteran hooker Codie Taylor has earned a recall and will captain New Zealand as All Blacks coach Dave Rennie made nine changes for Saturday’s fourth Test against South Africa in Baltimore. Taylor, who was dropped from the All Blacks’ squad for the 29-24 third Test defeat in Johannesburg on Saturday, replaces injured skipper Ardie Savea.
The 35-year-old Taylor forms part of an entirely new front row, with Ethan de Groot and Fletcher Newell coming in for George Bower and Tyrel Lomax. Patrick Tuipulotu comes in at lock to partner Sam Darry, while Tupou Vaa’i moves to blindside flanker in a back row that sees Ethan Blackadder come in at openside with Peter Lakai at No.8. Outside the scrum, Richie Mo’unga replaces Rubel Love at fly-half while Josh Moorby comes in at wing in place of Leroy Carter. Anton Lienert-Brown replaces Quinn Tupaea at centre.
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“We always planned for there to be a number of changes for this match,” All Blacks coach Rennie said. “Every player here has worked incredibly hard over the last seven weeks to prepare the team for the seven games we’ve played so far, and all those selected for this Test fully deserve it. We have everything to play for on Saturday. It is our chance to draw the series and end the tour with a performance to be proud of.”
The All Blacks trail South Africa 2-1 in the four-Test series — billed as “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” — which is staging the final match at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium as part of efforts to boost rugby’s profile in the United States ahead of the 2031 World Cup.
New Zealand (15-1): Damian McKenzie; Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby; Richie Mo’unga, Cam Roigard; Peter Lakai, Ethan Blackadder, Tupou Vaa’i; Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu; Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor (capt), Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Kyle Preston, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett.
Coach: Dave Rennie (NZL).
© 2024 AFP
