Crusaders openside Matt Todd has fended off the challenge of young gun Ardie Savea to retain his All Blacks starting role against Australia.
The world champions take on the Wallabies at Eden Park on Saturday in the third Bledisloe dead rubber, hoping to complete a trans-Tasman series clean sweep.
A victory will also give the side a record 18th consecutive Test win.
Todd, 28, started in the No.7 jumper against the Springboks in Durban, playing 55 minutes as the Kiwis thumped their traditional foes 57-15.
The 23-year-old Savea will start from the pine, while incumbent openside Sam Cane will play provincial rugby this weekend as he works his way back from injury.
Head coach Steve Hansen has entrusted Todd with the role again as he looks to keep his troops fresh ahead of their end-of-year tour.
“We’ve been focused in our preparation this week, and there’s a strong resolve within the group to put in another performance we can be proud of,” Hansen said.
Elsewhere, the prodigious Anton Lienert-Brown has also retained his place at centre after impressive Rugby Championship performances against Argentina and South Africa.
He will resume his midfield partnership with second-five Ryan Crotty, with Highlanders gun Malakai Fekitoa taking a spot on the bench.
Rampaging winger Julian Savea also comes back into the side in the place of Waisake Naholo, who has fallen out of the matchday squad altogether.
First-five Aaron Cruden is promoted back into the squad after overcoming a groin strain, coming in for Lima Sopoaga.
The All Blacks crushed Australia 42-8 and 29-9 in their first two Bledisloe encounters in August, dominating every facet of the match.
Hansen expected a tougher challenge this time around.
“They’ve made some significant changes to their game and would like nothing better than to end their Southern Hemisphere Test season with a win,” Hansen said.
“The stage is set for another huge trans-Tasman battle.”
As expected, TJ Perenara will start at halfback after star No.9 Aaron Smith stood down from the match in response to an incident in a Christchurch Airport toilet.
Smith’s squad replacement, Chiefs halfback Augustine Pulu, has been released to play NPC after club teammate Tawera Kerr-Barlow was named on the bench.
ALL BLACKS: Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Matt Todd, Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Joe Moody. RESERVES: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Liam Squire, Ardie Savea, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden, Malakai Fekitoa.
Muz
Guest
Agree die hard. Todd is a far better player than Pocock and hooper, who despite all the hype in the past have proved to be under whelming. Smith was a great player.
WQ
Guest
He must be getting something right, he's been picked to play number 7 for the Best Rugby Team on the planet
Faith
Guest
Todd did a lot of non-flashy stuff in Boks game. He was lucky though that Louw got injured early. Very unrated player, Louw. A real fetcher. The Wallabies are simply not as physical as the Boks so ABs will need speed to the breakdown with Pooper in play. And Todd is good for that. And he's also played a lot with Read so communication is key. Would have been great to have Naholo on bench in case Savea goes into his shell. That said if he does, Cruden comes in, Barrett to fullback, B Smith to wing and the points of attack change. If Coles, Franks, Moody play total rugby like they've been doing all year, Naholo's absence means nada ... Paul Cully on the game. Best analysis i’ve seen so far … http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/wallabies-need-to-go-up-the-guts-to-stand-a-chance-against-all-blacks-20161019-gs66yz.html?login_token=PK2m55SWAInMeitzgUXubKt5l5MrJzwqMPV6NEyW60PGVQaBGNfSTmaU971Q_o7HEieKL9r62tNM-uu5oGxFuQ&expiry=1476953505&single_use_token=B4GWczC0UPkUF37Z4AabPLYq1kM3R0rKKAz4wJiK4uGlLqCcYC46F1CkTJR07tiQut_BUQrhYWrpJIWtL38G5w#comments
Mike Julz
Guest
Poor Ardie gonna takeover Barrett as the SUPER SUB on the bench.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Nah Taylorman. You are wrong this time. It will be a nail bitter as the All Blacks will not be prepared at all due to Cheika's masterstroke in delaying the team. The coach of the year might take out coach of the decade with this tactic. They are not going even anounce the team at all. We will know more when they run out of the tunnel. Nor are they wearing numbers on their jerseys. Just the Gold and Green to add to the confusion. There is also a rumour they were seen practising a radical new move never seen before. Something about "up the jumper". I think they are planning on playing a kangaroo or two.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Very harsh StevieB. This is why I refrain from comments until I re-watch a game. Players like Whitelock and Todd are not always noticeable first glance but there value is seen in tight at the less glamorous roles. Todd did very well against the South Africans. You referenced a poor tackle on an earlier post and if it the one I think he was very unbalanced on contact. These things happen from time to time.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
I think Hansen doesn't yet see Ardie as an 80 minute test player and that being the case he thinks it works best for the team having Ardie come off the bench. The double impact of Squire and Savea from the bench is going to be an absolute weapon in future when the game opens up in the last quarter, both are incredibly quick and aggressive ball carriers.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Todd has been around a longtime and to be fair he was the better player when Sam Cane was called into the All Blacks ahead of him, it would be cruel had Hanson done the same again with someone like Blake Gibson who is not a better 7 then Todd.
CUW
Guest
the way i see it , people watch a lot of super rugger and expect players to do the same in tests . i think all the forwards play a different game in test , compared to their super rugger styles.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
There was one hit where he was unbalanced.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
I strongly agree with you Ngati. McCaw transformed the position further from a fetcher and rucks presence to a dominant defender and forward/back link. Cane took a few years to put on the bulk and Savea will likewise too. In fact I read comments from Savea earlier this year appreciating how much the extra bulk he has gained this year has affected his game. In this fashion Todd offers the better developed like for like replacement for Cane. Defense first.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Good point re 7, and I think he can do this because the rest of the team do the carrying, he has plenty of strong ball carriers, more than most other sides. Nice.
CUW
Guest
i think NZ will play heavy metal for the first 20 minutes. they will hammer anything that moves , in numbers. after that ur opponent is submissive. its like a UFC fight - hammer in the first round and draw bllood, then consolidate. i will bet u , there will be blood ( literally ) within the first 20 :)
CUW
Guest
i think HANSEN likes his 7 to be tight rather than a ranger. that is why u see CANE ( and TODD ) just tackling and hitting rucks for NZ but running and carrying a lot for Chiefs ( and Crusaders). i think that is why many ppl have commented that Cane and Todd shud be dropped for Savea - becoz they only see the fancy stuff :) the NZ coaches want different things. and they know best as the stats show !!!
CUW
Guest
becoz both KAINO and VITO trained to play in 2nd row along with READ , especially for the wold cup. all the NZ 2nd and 3rd rowers are competent jumpers , unlike the auzzy.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
I do agree about Smith but Smith has been retired from internationals through most of Todds career. Smith is worthy in any team and compared most favorably with McCaw on many occasions. I disagree about Pocock and Hooper. I guess there are different metrics for each of us but neither satisfy the seven role to my taste.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Kerr Barlow was born in Melbourne to NZ parents and then grew up in the rugby stronghold of Darwin. Wanting to be an All Black since young he got schooled in NZ and then went on from there. Very similar to Ben Franks who left at two years old. Your point I am sure is that NZ are poaching players. I am sure you meant to look at Australia.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Ha ha ha, top work there Rt.
Rt
Guest
Don't even know why wallabies are turning up. The all blacks are the best team ever in the history of the universe. They are so good it should be a penalisable offence just to tackle them and interrupt their game. Wonderful wonderful men representing the most modest and humble nation in the world against those dirty dirty Australians in yellow (ha ha ha yellow!! What can't you take at joke?), who can only compete by trying to be dirty dirty thugs. Nz'ers will of course only spit on the odd Aussie fan and boo Cooper en made for having the gall to be competitive. NZ by 5,000
deanB
Guest
Ha,ha. Yes, him too. Todd might not be the punters choice but I don't think Hansen and Co. give the proverbial about the public selection polls. In Shag We Trust.