Rieko Ioane will start on the wing in one of several changes to the All Blacks team to face the Springboks in Wellington this Saturday.
Having overcome an injury, Ioane returns on the left wing, while Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett will resume their halfback partnership.
Ryan Crotty is also fit again and will reclaim the No 12 jersey, with Anton Lienert-Brown at outside centre.
With Ioane back in the starting lineup, Ben Smith moves to the right wing to make way for Jordie Barrett at fullback.
There are also a number of changes up front, as Sam Whitelock moves into the No 4 jersey in the absence of injured Brodie Retallick.
Liam Squire and Sam Cane will again slot in on the flanks, with Ardie Savea moving to the bench.
‘We’ve had a good week’s preparation focusing on what we need to bring to the game through our skill-sets, the intensity of our play and our energy,’ All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.
‘We know that we’ll have to be at our very best in all these areas to counter an opposition we know will be desperate following their back-to-back losses.
‘That means we’ll have to respond with a quality performance and a real hunger to be better. You just have to look at our last encounter in Cape Town to understand what kind of beast we will be facing.’
All Blacks – 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Subs: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Jack Goodhue, 23 Damian McKenzie.
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
