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Cortez Ratima in line for debut as All Blacks name side to face England

Cortez Ratima looks on during the New Zealand All Blacks 2024 season launch at NZCIS on June 26, 2024 in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Scott Robertson has promoted Finlay Christie to starting halfback in the absence of the injured TJ Perenara for the second Test against England at Eden Park on Saturday.

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The promotion means a potential debut off the bench for Chiefs youngster Cortez Ratima, named in the No. 21 jersey for the contest.

The matchday 23 is otherwise unchanged, with Razor and company opting for continuity as they seek a clean sweep in the series against Steve Borthwick’s squad.

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That means a front row of Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Tyrel Lomax, who will be looking for more discipline at the scrum this time around.

Captain Scott Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu will pack down behind them in the second row, with Samipeni Finau, Dalton Papali’i and Ardie Savea rounding out the forward pack.

Finlay Christie links up with Damian McKenzie in the halves, feeding a midfield of Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane.

A raucous Eden Park will welcome two hometown heroes in the back three, with Mark Tele’a and Stephen Perofeta running out for the first time in the black jersey on the same field they won the Super Rugby Pacific title with the Blues last month.

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All Blacks team to play England in game 2

  1. Ethan de Groot
  2. Codie Taylor
  3. Tyrel Lomax
  4. Scott Barrett
  5. Patrick Tuipulotu
  6. Samipeni Finau
  7. Dalton Papali’i
  8. Ardie Savea
  9. Finlay Christie
  10. Damian McKenzie
  11. Mark Tele’a
  12. Jordie Barrett
  13. Rieko Ioane
  14. Sevu Reece
  15. Stephen Perofeta

Reserves

16. Asafo Aumua
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Tupou Vaa’i
20. Luke Jacobson
21. Cortez Ratima
22. Anton Lienert-Brown
23. Beauden Barrett

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Comments

18 Comments
j
james 264 days ago

Go you black bastards!

C
Chiefs Mana 265 days ago

Quick pass, snipey runner, great support lines, big box kick, tough defender - bring him on early!

T
Tristan 265 days ago

Last week was first test for several months, some new combinations, new coaches with new systems for attack and defence. It's quite obvious that they wouldn't be a slick well drilled unit after about 10 days together. IMHO 100% right call to go for continuity and let the same selection grow this week. This squad was picked to win 3 tests, let them.

S
SadersMan 266 days ago

As expected 👍

M
Maxwell 266 days ago

Even after England managed to disable Mckenzie picking him to start again?
‘I can imagine him slicing through a tired English side like a sharp hot knife through butter.

Would have been a good opportunity to see BB start and play to Mckenzies strengths.

J
Jon 266 days ago

Whats the England team?

Will be interesting to see if its a reverse of the strategies played in the last game, this time.

S
Sam T 266 days ago

Glad to see they’ve retained the same squad, TJ’s injury aside.

I expect another close fought test match, with a margin less than 5 points.

S
Siphelele 266 days ago

All Blacks by 15 points.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

Yep, another problem!


I think he would have, in the instance I mentioned, which wasn’t changing anything other than correctly applying todays eligibility quidelines. Which is an arbitrary construct, as the deal likely would have played out completely differently, but I just ‘allowed’ him to have 1 year sabbatically for his ‘loyalty’, rather than having some arbitrary number like 70 caps required.


So if Richie had a 3 year deal, and the first year he was allowed to use him still, I don’t think he’d really not transition to Dmac being his main 10, as he’s obviously the only one he can use for the following two years, therefore likely his only real option for the WC (very hard for Richie to overtake him in such a short time). Richie would purely be a security net in a situation like I proposition where there are only small changes to the eligibility.


The system is not working well enough though, as we don’t have the Rugby Championship or World Cup trophies, do we? Well on that last question, that’s all I’m really saying but I would not believe a word this author says, so it’s entirely a ‘what if’ discussion, but if the author is right and now they are actually going to be more flexible, I think that’s great yeah. Ultimately thought I think those two players were an anomaly signing their contracts and futures up so far ahead, especially of when they were performing. Both jumped at the opportunity of good contracts when their All Black prospects weren’t looking that bright.

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