All Blacks announce team to play British and Irish Lions for first Test - Ruck

All Blacks announce team to play British and Irish Lions for first Test

Kieran Read will captain the All Blacks as Rieko Ioane starts on the left wing for Saturday’s first Test against the British and Irish Lions.

The 31-year-old had not played since April because of a broken thumb.



Wing Rieko Ioane will win his third cap, while Ryan Crotty partners Sonny Bill Williams in the centre.

“This was a really tough team to pick. There were a number of players in great form vying for positions,” said All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen.

All Blacks first Test starting XV in FULL (Test caps in brackets)
1. Joe Moody (25)
2. Codie Taylor (16)
3. Owen Franks (91)
4. Brodie Retallick (61)
5. Samuel Whitelock (85)
6. Jerome Kaino (78)
7. Sam Cane (41)
8. Kieran Read (97) – Captain
9. Aaron Smith (59)
10. Beauden Barrett (50)
11. Rieko Ioane (2)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (34)
13. Ryan Crotty (26)
14. Israel Dagg (62)
15. Ben Smith (61)
REPLACEMENTS 
16. Nathan Harris (5)
17. Wyatt Crockett (59)
18. Charlie Faumuina (47)
19. Scott Barrett (5)
20. Ardie Savea (13)
21. TJ Perenara (30)
22. Aaron Cruden (47) / Lima Sopoaga (7)
23. Anton Lienert-Brown (10)