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All Blacks' team for Springboks clash named
By Dejan Kalinic
All Blacks captain Kieran Read has been named to return for New Zealand's Rugby Championship clash with South Africa in Pretoria.
Read, 32, is back for his side's final game of the tournament, which they have already won, on Saturday.
He returns at number eight in place of Ardie Savea in one of four changes to the starting team that overcame Argentina 35-17 in Buenos Aires last time out.
Veteran Owen Franks replaces Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Aaron Smith takes TJ Perenara's spot at scrum-half and Jack Goodhue is in for Ryan Crotty.
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen said his team's approach would not change, despite having sealed the Rugby Championship title.
"Nothing changes for us," he said.
"It's a Test match that everyone in New Zealand expects us to win. The fact that it's an All Blacks-Springboks Test match makes it even more exciting and it's one that we're really looking forward to.
"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.
"While our preparation this week has had to be slightly modified because of our travel, it has still been thorough, which should put us in good stead for Saturday."
The All Blacks' only loss in the Rugby Championship came against the Springboks, who claimed a shock 36-34 victory in Wellington last month.
New Zealand: Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Jack Goodhue, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Karl Tu'inukuafe, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Samuel Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane, Kieran Read.
Replacements: Nathan Harris, Tim Perry, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Richie Mo'unga, Ryan Crotty.
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Latest Comments
Reiko should be the dual winger guy as he should be used to playing either side given he's had to do both at 13 (pass and step left/right).
Maybe he has such a bad preference that that's why he's not a good center?
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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