All Blacks team to play South Africa in third Test in Johannesburg

All Blacks Head Coach Dave Rennie has named his team to play South Africa in the third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, presented by Castle Double Malt on Saturday 5 September at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.

Kick off 5.10PM local time (3.10AM Sunday 6 September NZT) LIVE on Sky Sport. The All Blacks v Springboks Test will be preceded by an historic first ever clash on South African soil between the Black Ferns and Springboks Women at 1:30PM local time (11:30PM NZT). Highlights available on allblacks.com and the All Blacks and Black Ferns app.

All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets):

1.  George Bower (28)

2.  Asafo Aumua (24)

3.  Tyrel Lomax (53)

4.  Tupou Vaa’i (49)

5.  Sam Darry (10)

6.  Peter Lakai (12)

7.  Luke Jacobson (29)

8.  Ardie Savea (111) - Captain 

9.  Cam Roigard (22)

10. Ruben Love (10)

11. Leroy Carter (9)

12. Jordie Barrett (83)

13. Quinn Tupaea (28)

14. Will Jordan (59)

15. Damian McKenzie (79)

Reserves:

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (44)

17. Xavier Numia (3)

18. Fletcher Newell (39)

19. Fabian Holland (14)

20. Wallace Sititi (21)

21. Kyle Preston (3)

22. Anton Lienert-Brown (92)

23. Josh Moorby (3)

In changes from the team that played the second Test last weekend, hooker Asafo Aumua will start with Samisoni Taukei’aho coming into the 23 as impact.  Sam Darry starts at lock in his 11^th Test, while Fabian Holland moves to the bench. Peter Lakai will start in the six jersey, and Wallace Sititi will make his first Test appearance in the Series, coming into the 23 as loose forward impact.

Tupou Vaa’i will be playing his 50^th Test.

“Tupes is a top man. It’ll be a special day for him and his family and additional motivation for us,” Rennie said.

“With both teams heading into the third Test one apiece, there’s everything to play for on Saturday.” 

“The team that doesn’t win this weekend can’t win the series.  That’s the kind of challenge we love to rise to.

“The team is feeling fresh after a full week’s lead in to the game and we can’t wait to put everything out on the park.

Rennie has also paid tribute to the All Blacks huge fanbase.

WATCH: Leroy Carter talks about his journey from NPC halfback to All Blacks wing

MATCH FACTS

• As well as Vaa’i playing his 50^th Test, there will also be other numerical milestones this weekend: Damian McKenzie will be playing his 80^th Test, Will Jordan his 60^th, Fletcher Newell his 40^th, and Luke Jacobson his 30^th.
• This is the ninth time in 13 Test series between New Zealand and South Africa that the results have been tied at one-all going into the Third test.
• The All Blacks have played twice previously at FNB Stadium, winning 29-22 in 2010 and 32 - 16 in 2012.
• With his 33rd Test try last week, Ardie Savea took the number of total Test tries for the Savea brothers to a world record of 79 for siblings (Julian Savea scored 46), passing the Barrett brothers mark of 78: Beauden has scored 45 tries, Jordie 26 and Scott seven.

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