1
All Blacks name their most experienced team to ever play World Cup final
The All Blacks have named a relatively settled team to take on the Springboks in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France with coach Ian Foster making just one change to the starting side.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sam Whitelock, 35, will come off the bench in his 153rd and final Test. Test centurion Brodie Retallick has been recalled into the starting side and will partner Scott Barrett in the forwards.
The only other change to the All Blacks team that played Argentina last week comes on the bench. Nepo Laulala replaces Fletcher Newell on the bench, while Samisoni Taukei’aho retains his place in the No. 16 jumper ahead of Dane Coles.
Retallick, halfback Aaron Smith and Whitelock have all been named in an All Blacks team for the last time. Dane Coles is another departing All Black, but the veteran will watch on from the sidelines as his teammates take on the Springboks.
“We’ve talked about farewells. We’ve talked this week about being the best that we can,” assistant coach Jason Ryan told reporters on Tuesday.
“We had quite a nice night last night as a team and some of our experienced leaders spoke about what it’s been to be an All Black and their previous experiences in World Cups, as well as some of the younger boys.
“That’s been a special part of our week and it was nice last night listening to some of those guys. Anyone that has played 100 plus Tests, you’ve got some stories haven’t you.”
ADVERTISEMENT
With 1387 Test caps between them, this is the most experienced All Blacks side to ever play in a Rugby World Cup decider.
Australian-born props Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax join hooker Codie Taylor in a familiar-looking front row, with the trio set to pack down alongside each other for the third time in as many Tests.
Knockout
11 - 12
Final
6 - 44
SF1
15 - 16
SF2
17 - 29
QF1
24 - 28
QF2
30 - 24
QF3
28 - 29
QF4
As mentioned, veteran Brodie Retallick comes back into the starting side at No. 4 lock and will join Scott Barrett in the second row as Sam Whitelock drops to the bench.
Shannon Frizell will look to impress in his final Test match before heading to Japan after signing for Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan’s Rugby League One.
ADVERTISEMENT
The powerful blindside flanker joins captain Sam Cane and World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Adrie Savea in a formidable backrow that has taken the World Cup by storm this month.
New Zealand have named an unchanged backline following the commanding 44-6 win over Argentina in last week’s semi-final, starting with the halves pairing of Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga.
Outside of the midfield duo of Rieko Ioane and Jordie Barrett, Breakout Player of the Year contender Mark Tele’a will look to take flight on the left wing.
Try-scoring phenomenon Will Jordan – who could potentially break the record for tries scored in a single tournament in Saturday’s final – will start on the right, while Beauden Barrett lines up out the back.
Moving onto the bench, the All Blacks have gone with a 5:3 split to combat the Springboks’ ‘Bomb squad.’ As well as Taukei’aho and Laulala, Breakout Player of the Year nominee Tamaiti Williams is the third front-row replacement.
Whitelock and flanker Dalton Papali’i are the two replacements in the forwards.
Finlay Christie has been picked ahead of Cam Roigard once again, while Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown will look to add some value off the pine.
The Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France kicks off at 9.00 pm CET on Saturday evening / 8.00 am NZT on Sunday morning.
All Blacks team for Rugby World Cup final
- Ethan de Groot
- Codie Tayor
- Tyrel Lomax
- Brodie Retallick
- Scott Barrett
- Shannon Frizell
- Sam Cane (c)
- Ardie Savea
- Aaron Smith
- Richie Mo’unga
- Mark Tele’a
- Jordie Barrett
- Rieko Ioane
- Will Jordan
- Beauden Barrett
Replacements:
- Samisoni Taukei’aho
- Tamaiti Williams
- Nepo Laulala
- Sam Whitelock
- Dalton Papali’i
- Finlay Christie
- Damian McKenzie
- Anton Lienert-Brown
Comments on RugbyPass
What a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
2 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
2 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
227 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
227 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
227 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to comments