Autumn Internationals: All Blacks make 11 changes for final - Ruck

Autumn Internationals: All Blacks make 11 changes for final

Steve Hansen has rung the changes for Saturday’s Test against Italy, retaining only four of the side which lost to Ireland in Dublin.

Out-half Beauden Barrett and fullback Damien McKenzie are among the four to keep their places, with Hansen resisting calls to start the in-form Richie Mo’unga and sticking with his dual playmakers.

“That’s the three guys that we see at the moment that would most likely go to the World Cup, so getting them combining, either at the beginning of the game or during the course of the game, is important,” he said.

“We haven’t got too many games left so the more we play them together, the better it will be.”

New Zealand team to face Italy:

15. Damian McKenzie
14. Jordie Barrett
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
12. Ngani Laumape
11. Waisake Naholo
10. Beauden Barrett
9. TJ Perenara

1. Ofa Tuungafasi
2. Dane Coles
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Patrick Tuipulotu
5. Scott Barrett
6. Vaea Fifita
7. Ardie Savea
8. Kieran Read (capt)

Replacements:

16. Nathan Harris
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe
18. Angus Ta’avao
19. Brodie Retallick
20. Dalton Papalii
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
22. Richie Mo’unga
23. Rieko Ioane