JOHANNESBURG :New Zealand captain Scott Barrett has returned from a broken finger to lead the side in their Rugby Championship test against South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday, while former skipper Sam Cane will also start against the world champions.
Barrett missed the first two tests of the competition at home against Argentina but takes his place in the second row alongside the in-form Tupou Vaa’i.
Codie Taylor starts at hooker and will have props Tamaiti Williams and Tyrel Lomax alongside him in the front row of a scrum that has functioned well this year and could be a key weapon at the weekend against a depleted South African pack.
Cane makes up a back three with fellow flanker Ethan Blackadder and number eight Ardie Savea.
New Zealand coach Scott Robertson revealed that flanker Dalton Papali’i has a thumb injury, though Cane may have started in his place in any event.
“Sam has been incredible off the field for us, it is an opportunity for him to bring all his experience, calmness and tough shoulders on the Highveld, which we will need. I am excited for him,” Robertson told reporters.
“We think it is a balanced loose-trio and the best combination for this test.”
Beauden Barrett keeps his place at fullback ahead of Will Jordan, who starts on the wing along with Caleb Clarke, the latter preferred to Mark Tele’a.
A third Barrett brother, Jordie, is at centre alongside Rieko Ioane, while Damian McKenzie keeps his place at flyhalf and TJ Perenara is in the number nine jersey.
Robertson has decided not to fight fire with fire and match the Springboks’ 6-2 split between forwards and backs on the bench, opting for 5-3 with scrumhalf Cortez Ratima, centre Anton Lienert-Brown and Tele’a the three back options.
Robertson said he had to make some tough decisions for the game at Ellis Park.
“It is an iconic field, you want to have experienced it before,” he added. “There will be some tough moments out there, we know that, so the calmness, tone of voice and composure are all important.
“This was a tough team for me to pick, but that is great as a coach.”
South Africa have won nine of the previous 15 meetings at Ellis Park, but the average score in that time has been 23-22 in their favour.
Team: 15-Beauden Barrett, 14-Will Jordan, 13-Rieko Ioane, 12-Jordie Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 10-Damian McKenzie, 9-TJ Perenara, 8-Ardie Savea, 7-Sam Cane, 6-Ethan Blackadder, 5-Tupou Vaa’i, 4-Scott Barrett (capt), 3-Tyrel Lomax, 2-Codie Taylor, 1-Tamaiti Williams
Replacements: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Sam Darry, 20-Samipeni Finau, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Anton Lienert-Brown, 23-Mark Tele’a.
