All Blacks coach Ian Foster makes three changes to his XV to face SA on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Mix from 10.20pm; Wing Sevu Reece replaces Will Jordan; Anton Lienert-Brown starts at centre with Rieko Ioane moving to left wing; Brad Weber in for TJ Perenara.
Thursday 30 September 2021 12:52, UK
Centre Anton Lienert-Brown has returned from a hamstring injury and fly-half Richie Mo'unga is back from hotel quarantine for the All Blacks' final Rugby Championship match against South Africa on Saturday, live on Sky Sports...
Lienert-Brown slots in at outside centre, pushing Rieko Ioane to the wing and George Bridge out of the matchday 23 for the clash on the Gold Coast.
Mo'unga, who had to isolate for two weeks as part of COVID-19 protocols after arriving late to Australia, is being eased back via the bench, leaving Beauden Barrett in the number 10 jersey.
Coach Ian Foster made no changes to the pack named last week for New Zealand's 19-17 win over South Africa in Townsville which wrapped up the title with a match to spare.
Foster was unhappy with the performance of his back three against the Springboks, however, and has cut winger Will Jordan along with Bridge from the matchday 23.
Sevu Reece takes Jordan's place on the wing.
"I think our back three perhaps weren't at the level we needed them to be last week. So it's clearly a message that's been sent," Foster told media on Thursday.
Brad Weber has been promoted to starting scrum-half, with TJ Perenara dropping to the bench as the All Blacks look to finish the competition unbeaten.
Asafo Aumua comes in at reserve hooker and George Bower comes in for prop Karl Tuinukuafe on the bench.
"We learnt some lessons last week," said Foster.
"We didn't look after the ball as well as we could have and some of our work at the ruck wasn't as good as we wanted.
"We have to lift our performance in that area and the team is keen to get that right this weekend."
New Zealand: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 David Havili, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Brad Weber; 1 Joe Moody, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Nepo Laulala, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Scott Barrett, 6 Akira Ioane, 7 Ardie Savea, 8 Luke Jacobson.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Richie Mo'unga, 23 Damian McKenzie.
