All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has plenty to deliberate ahead of the third test, in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against South Africa.
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After defeating the four South African clubs and taking the win in the opening test against the Springboks, Rennie’s men fell to a resurgent side for a 33-26 second test defeat in Cape Town. The action returns to Johannesburg for the third test, and RUCK has predicted several changes for the All Blacks team to face the Springboks.
We could be set to witness a landmark return for Richie Mo’unga, and we predict to see the fly half named on the bench for this Saturday’s clash. Whilst Ruben Love has been the first choice man in the 10 jersey so far under Rennie, the Hurricane had an underwhelming effort in the second test and faces a possible unseating from a returning Mo’unga. Should our prediction come true, this will mark Mo’unga’s first All Blacks test cap since the Rugby World Cup Final defeat to the Springboks in 2023.
Whilst the back-line is expected to remain unchanged for New Zealand, there is the prospect of several altercations in the forward pack. Josh Lord could make his return to action, having sat-out the second test in Cape Town following a concussion sustained in the opening clash with the Boks. Should Lord complete his projected World Rugby return to play protocols, the lock could well slot back into the engine room this weekend. This shuffles Tupou Vaa’i down to the bench, and kicks Patrick Tuipulotu out of the entire match day 23.
PREDICTED ALL BLACKS XV TO FACE SPRINGBOKS – 3RD TEST: RUGBY’S GREATEST RIVALRY
15. DAMIAN MCKENZIE
14. WILL JORDAN
13. QUINN TUPAEA
12. JORDIE BARRETT
11. LEROY CARTER
10. RUBEN LOVE
9. CAM ROIGARD
1. GEORGE BOWER
2. CODIE TAYLOR
3. TYREL LOMAX
4. JOSH LORD
5. FABIAN HOLLAND
6. SIMON PARKER
7. LUKE JACOBSON
8. ARDIE SAVEA
REPLACEMENTS
16. ASAFO AUMUA
17. XAVIER NUMIA
18. FLETCHER NEWELL
19. TUPOU VAA’I
20. PETER LAKAI
21. KYLE PRESTON
22. RICHIE MO’UNGA
23. ANTON LIENERT-BROWN
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