All Blacks seek revenge
Captain Kieran Read, halfback Aaron Smith and prop Owen Franks will return to the fray against the Springboks tomorrow, after being rested against the Pumas.
NAMPA/AFP
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has handed rising star Jack Goodhue a golden opportunity to stake his claim, by announcing that he will start at centre in tomorrow’s Rugby Championship match against the Springboks.
Veteran Ryan Crotty has been demoted to the bench.
Goodhue, 23, will partner Sonny Bill Williams as New Zealand look to avenge last month's shock 34-36 loss to the Springboks in Wellington.
Hansen, whose side has already won the southern hemisphere tournament, said he wants to see how the Goodhue-Williams combination works, no doubt with one eye on next year's Rugby World Cup defence in Japan.
"We know a lot about Ryan and Jack but we don't know a lot about Sonny and Jack," he said.
"All year we've been trying to work out what's our best combination in that area for the future and this is an opportunity to do that."
The inclusion of Goodhue, Crotty's teammate at the Crusaders, is one of four changes to the starting XV that beat Argentina 35-17 to seal the title last week.
Hansen said New Zealand need to maintain their intensity in front of a sold-out crowd of 52 000 in Pretoria, even though they had already won the tournament.
With South Africa riding high after back-to-back wins over the All Blacks and Australia, Hansen admitted the New Zealanders have a point to prove.
"Nothing changes for us. It's a Test match that everyone in New Zealand expects us to win.
"South Africa are playing with a lot of confidence and after their two recent wins, their confidence levels will be even higher.
"So we'll need to respond with real purpose, composure, belief and intensity," Hansen said.
New Zealand (15-1): Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Jack Goodhue, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Loane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor and Karl Tu'inukuafe.
Replacements: Nathan Harris, Tim Perry, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Richie Mo'unga and Ryan Crotty.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has handed rising star Jack Goodhue a golden opportunity to stake his claim, by announcing that he will start at centre in tomorrow’s Rugby Championship match against the Springboks.
Veteran Ryan Crotty has been demoted to the bench.
Goodhue, 23, will partner Sonny Bill Williams as New Zealand look to avenge last month's shock 34-36 loss to the Springboks in Wellington.
Hansen, whose side has already won the southern hemisphere tournament, said he wants to see how the Goodhue-Williams combination works, no doubt with one eye on next year's Rugby World Cup defence in Japan.
"We know a lot about Ryan and Jack but we don't know a lot about Sonny and Jack," he said.
"All year we've been trying to work out what's our best combination in that area for the future and this is an opportunity to do that."
The inclusion of Goodhue, Crotty's teammate at the Crusaders, is one of four changes to the starting XV that beat Argentina 35-17 to seal the title last week.
Hansen said New Zealand need to maintain their intensity in front of a sold-out crowd of 52 000 in Pretoria, even though they had already won the tournament.
With South Africa riding high after back-to-back wins over the All Blacks and Australia, Hansen admitted the New Zealanders have a point to prove.
"Nothing changes for us. It's a Test match that everyone in New Zealand expects us to win.
"South Africa are playing with a lot of confidence and after their two recent wins, their confidence levels will be even higher.
"So we'll need to respond with real purpose, composure, belief and intensity," Hansen said.
New Zealand (15-1): Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Jack Goodhue, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Loane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor and Karl Tu'inukuafe.
Replacements: Nathan Harris, Tim Perry, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Richie Mo'unga and Ryan Crotty.
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