Why Sam Whitelock has been handed All Black captaincy over Ardie Savea
All Blacks skipper Sam Cane will miss the Rugby Championship decider against Australia, with Sam Whitelock leading New Zealand as they chase the title.
Coach Ian Foster has made five changes to the team that pocketed the Bledisloe Cup for another year with their 39-37 triumph in Melbourne last Thursday.
Cane, who like David Havili suffered a head knock in last week's Test and will miss the Eden Park rematch, will be replaced at seven by Dalton Papali'i.
As predicted, Ardie Savea returns to the XV after staying in New Zealand last week for the birth of his third child.
Foster has opted for Whitelock, who will earn his 140th cap, as skipper over Savea, allowing the tyro No.8 to get back into the groove.
"It takes a bit of adjustment when you miss a week," Foster said.
"We really felt it was better for Ardie to get back into it and get his mind onto his role."
Jordie Barrett, who scored the match-winning 81st-minute try last week, will be unleashed in midfield at inside centre while brother Beauden Barrett jumps from the bench to start on the wing.
Akira Ioane and Codie Taylor also come into the starting side, while in-form forward Scott Barrett misses due to calf tightness and Samisoni Taukei'aho goes to the bench.
Taukei'aho scored a double last week but Foster said he'd opted for Taylor for his freshness "to change the picture a little bit".
Despite the changes and poor early season form, the All Blacks are firm favourites at their house of pain, Eden Park, where they are unbeaten against the Wallabies since 1986.
Foster's side can claim the southern hemisphere title by beating Australia with a better result than South Africa, who play Argentina a few hours later in Durban.
"It's got a final-type feel," Foster said.
"If you look at the state of the rugby championship, there's a few unknowns isn't there ... but there's a massive part that we can control.
"This is what Test match rugby is all about and we can't wait."
Quinn Tupaea is also out after suffering a season-ending knee injury at the hands of Wallabies lock Darcy Swain last week.
The Sanzaar judiciary handed Swain a six-week ban for the illegal cleanout.
The Wallabies hold a mathematical, if unlikely, chance of winning the Rugby Championship, but must beat New Zealand handily and hope Argentina upset South Africa.
ALL BLACKS XV: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali'i, Akira Iaone, Sam Whitelock (c), Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan De Groot. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Tupou Vaa'i, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Sevu Reece.
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wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
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