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New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has named two debutants in the All Blacks squad to take on the Springboks in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Highlanders half Lima Sopoaga and Hurricanes lock James Broadhurst are the only uncapped players in Hansen’s squad, with both players being rewarded with All Black caps following strong seasons in Super Rugby.
Sopoaga, 24, will be paired in the halves by club teammate Aaron Smith who replaces TJ Perenara. Hansen believes that Sopoaga has all the necessary tools to succeed as the All Blacks primary playmaker.
“He’s someone we are comfortable with and confident he can run the cutter and be the driver we need him to be,” said Hansen.
“He plays up in the line, he is flat and he challenges the opposition. He has done that all season with the Highlanders. That’s all we expect him to do, just bring that form to this team and look after his role.”
Meanwhile, 27-year-old Broadhurst will partner reigning IRB International Player of the Year Brodie Retallick in the second row, with Sam Whitelock dropping to the bench.
Hansen has rewarded Broadhurst for a strong season with the Hurricanes, and has said that Saturday’s game against the Springboks will be about as physical a game as the Taranaki lock has ever played in.
“He’s had a pretty good season and it is a step-up physically – he is probably not going to get too many more bigger challenges from a physical point of view,” Hansen said.
“So he’s got to be right in the heart of it. The tight five is where Test matches are won.”
Hansen has made seven alterations to the side that defeated Argentina 39-18 in the opening game of the Rugby Championship, with Dane Coles and Liam Messam joing Broadhurst as the only other changes in the New Zealand forward pack. Coles and Messam replace Kaino and Mealamu who both drop out of the squad completely, being replaced in the matchday 23 by Codie Taylor and Victor Vito respectively.
Meanwhile, in the backs, Ben Smith comes in for the injured Waisake Naholo who has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament and September’s World Cup with a broken leg, while Conrad Smith comes in for Sonny Bill Williams who drops out of the squad completely.
The All Blacks have just three games left before they must name their 31-man World Cup squad next month, and Hansen and his selectors have had to put their trust in the uncapped players.
“A lot of thought went into it and once again it’s a juggling act isn’t it? You have to have the right amount of experience, but you also have got to find out if the young people in your group can cope with the pressure,” Hansen said.
“There’s no bigger game than this one. Ellis Park is a tough place to play and you will find out a lot about our athletes.”
All Blacks
FB 15 Israel Dagg
RW 14 Ben Smith
OC 13 Conrad Smith
IC 12 Ma’a Nonu
LW 11 Charles Piutau
FH 10 Lima Sopoaga
SH 9 Aaron Smith
N8 8 Kieran Read
OF 7 Richie McCaw (c)
BF 6 Liam Messam
RL 5 James Broadhurst
LL 4 Brodie Retallick
TP 3 Owen Franks
HK 2 Dane Coles
LP 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements
HK 16 Codie Taylor
PR 17 Wyatt Crockett
PR 18 Ben Franks
LK 19 Sam Whitelock
N8 20 Victor Vito
SH 21 TJ Perenara
FH 22 Beauden Barrett
CE 23 Malakai Fekitoa
Coach
New Zealand Steve Hansen
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