Sam Cane will return as All Blacks captain in their final World Cup Pool A game against Uruguay on Thursday, when a bonus-point win would guarantee New Zealand a spot in the knockout rounds.
Coach Ian Foster has made nine changes to the starting side that thrashed Italy 96-17 at the same OL Stadium last weekend, resting regular starters such as Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith and Rieko Ioane ahead of the quarter-finals.
Lock Sam Whitelock will make his 150th Test appearance in the starting second row along with Tupou Vaa’i, having surpassed Richie McCaw as the most-capped All Black as a replacement against Italy.
Whitelock will also own outright the Rugby World Cup appearance record. His 23rd match will surpass England’s Jason Leonard and McCaw.
Tyrel Lomax comes back into the front row at tighthead prop after returning off the bench against Italy having missed the opening 27-13 loss to pool leaders France and 71-3 win over Namibia with a nasty gash to his leg that required 30 stitches.
Cane also came off the bench after a back problem last week and his return to the starting side means Dalton Papali’i drops out with Ethan Blackadder, a squad injury replacement for winger Emoni Narawa, covering the loose forwards from the bench.
Blindside flanker Shannon Frizell gets another run out after a good showing against Italy on his return from a hamstring strain, while Damian McKenzie has a rare start at fullback with Beauden Barrett benched.
Jordie Barrett keeps the family name in the starting line-up, however, after being selected in the centres with Anton Leinart-Brown after making his comeback from a knee problem with a standout performance in the Italy drubbing.
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster (L) and captain Sam Cane. (Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)
The All Blacks and Uruguay first met during a tour of Argentina and Uruguay in 1976, but Friday’s match will mark the first official Test between the two sides and is expected to be played in front of more than 50,000 fans.
Coach Ian Foster said his team was wary of complacency.
“You need two things. One, you can’t motivate a team falsely because it shows in performance. So, you’ve got to get real about it,” he said.
“We’ve got so much to achieve ourselves. That’s a fact. We are not in a quarter-final yet, so we’ve got to make sure we do that.
“We are playing against a team that basically had the same scoreline against France as what we did. And that’s in the last month. I am not trying to talk them up falsely but they lost to France by the same scoreline we did. That deserves a lot of respect and if you watch that game, these guys, I love their attitude. I think they’re a really passionate rugby team and if we’re not in the house, then we are going to struggle. That’s a fact we’ve got to deal with.
“For us, we are at our best when we are on edge. Sometimes our opponent puts us on edge, sometimes the situation puts you on edge but at all times your own internal standards have to be the edge that really matters the most.”
New Zealand squad
1 Ofa Tuungafasi
2 Codie Taylor
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 Samuel Whitelock
5 Tupou Vaa’i
6 Shannon Frizell
7 Sam Cane (c)
8 Luke Jacobson
9 Cam Roigard
10 Richie Mo’unga
11 Leicester Fainga’anuku
12 Jordie Barrett
13 Anton Lienert-Brown
14 Will Jordan
15 Damian McKenzie
Replacements:
16 Samisoni Taukei’aho
17 Tamaiti Williams
18 Fletcher Newell
19 Scott Barrett
20 Ethan Blackadder
21 Finlay Christie
22 Beauden Barrett
23 Caleb Clarke
Guess
Roar Rookie
Makes sense if it was his first game. Thanks
Gkl
Roar Rookie
My impression is that Cane is highly regarded by Foster for his excellent skillset at the breakdown and no one else in the squad is better. Plus he is the captain.
Paul Jackson
Roar Rookie
Apologies CUW
Jacko
Roar Rookie
NB cant write a non bias article.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I don’t see many reasons why you would like Mounga at 10. His issues are obvious and the odd exceptional line break is too few and far between to justify his selection at 10. Dmac completely outshone Mounga in that last match in just 12 mins he ran 5 times the metres and made more breaks and beat more defenders. Mounga's stats indicated he walked between goal kicks. You dont see it because you are blind to Moungas major issues that he has had since he became an AB. ABs fails have coincided with Mounga at 10 inc the 2019 WC semi.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Nope. No attention needed with his D or his running. His running ran 75m in 12 mins. Moungas running ran 14 mtrs in 68 mins. The world of difference is astounding. Mounga's stats for a so called easy game were terrible. Goal kicking excluded from that.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Uruguay need to beat the All Blacks by 80 points to go through to the quarters. I am not seeing detailed articles on this as a possibility, Australian journos take note please.
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
Good to see Blackadder included. Don't know if he's at the quoted 118kg but what I saw of him for Tasman, he's definitely bulkier than past seasons and looks all the more imposing for it. Even when he's not selected, Reiko still divides opinions. I cut him some slack because, unlike all the other viable candidates for 13, Reiko has always been fit and available. But the Irish are going to pour the heat on his uncertain defensive decision making with their short passing, multiple support runner tactics. Great chance for Roigard to get some big minutes and show us how much he's learned in the short time he's had with the AB. Congrats to Big Sam, much respect for the way he's conducted himself in the black jersey all these years.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
DMac occasionally gets the keys, but it's Richie that gets the nod, mostly. Did you watch the last SR game between these two? Even besides that Jacko, we all know of your opinion towards anything Richie. Geeez honestly DMac might need some advice from Marty Banks, as he being a fellow Southlander, might help solve his problem of running across the field. OK I agree DMac is a good first five, but his defence & cross field running needs attention.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
Talking more about the soft grubbers in front.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Move on from Goodhue Muzzo. There are plenty better in NPC. He's leaving anyway so wont be an AB ever again.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
That old
Crusaders-hateChiefs-hate dies hard with some… :laughing: :laughing:Jacko
Roar Rookie
No harder than the Crusaders love does Coker and youre wrong. I have no hate for the Saders. Just for some who believe that if you play for the saders you should be an All Black by default not talent.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yep looking forward to the 1/4s of NPC this weekend. Plenty of talent leaving NZ after this WC but watching these games will reasure me we have plenty coming thru.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Sr is an international game too Muzzo. Not test rugby tho. Dont worry tho Im looking forward to the reset as much as you are. Like you I never wanted Fossie and dont like the 20 years of continuence. No new ideas for 20 years is 16 years to many for my liking.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
haha Mounga??? Put BB at 10????? LOL. Bear poking done :laughing: :laughing:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yes he did and the other centres were Heem, Nankerville and B Sullivan. Sadly Nankerville is leaving.
4 of 6
Roar Rookie
Hope Canes plays a blinder in this game , big impact tackles, speed with ball in hand and plenty of pilfering . The selection of the loose forwards are will balanced and with EB coming off the bench for SF , the intensity should be maintained throughout the match.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Wrong again Jacko, as Razor has won a test. Are not the U20's tests, international games?? Honestly, what did this current AB coach do, apart from sfa, before he came into the AB environment? As it was, it was a job for the boys.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hahaha OB now tell me where I said Saders won't be the same next season? Tbh they will be missing Razor, but they still have a sound coach coming in. Your assumptions on this failing garbage has certainly got you confused Bro! Also you did miss Goodhue who was a standout, in that AB XV that toured Japan.