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What written judgement said about Alex Mann's role in gouging saga
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The biggest battle in world rugby is happening in Albany as the All Blacks take on old foes the Springboks in The Rugby Championship. The boys from The Short Ball had a good chat about what they think is going to happen, but it’s safe to say that this going to be far from the walkover that happened the last time these two sides met in Durban last year. Follow all the action, stats and commentary in our Live Match Centre here.
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The All Blacks will be without starting props Joe Moody and Owen Franks, with their 127 caps being replaced by just eight in the form of Kane Hames and Nepo Laulala.
Despite Vaea Fifita’s fine performance against Argentina, Liam Squire comes in for him at blindside flanker. Aaron Smith returns at scrum-half and Ryan Crotty ousts Anton Lienert-Brown at outside centre.
Retallick and openside flanker Sam Cane are also back in the XV, along with Rieko Ioane, who takes the place of the injured Israel Dagg.
For the Boks, Ruan Dreyer is in line for his second test appearance after replacing Coenie Oosthuizen at tighthead prop because of the latter’s broken arm. Flanker Jaco Kriel is also out, opening the door for Jean-Luc du Preez.
Lock Franco Mostert joins captain Eben Etzebeth in the second row as Pieter-Steph du Toit is benched. Francois Hougaard is back in at scrum-half due to Ross Cronje’s illness.
LINE-UPS
All Blacks: Damian McKenzie, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Kane Hames, Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Liam Squire, Sam Cane, Kieran Read.
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Replacements: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Lima Sopoaga, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Springboks: Andries Coetzee, Raymond Rhule, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Francois Hougaard; Tendai Mtawarira, Malcolm Marx, Ruan Dreyer, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi, Jean-Luc du Preez, Uzair Cassiem.
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Lood De Jager, Pieter-Steph Du Toit, Francois Hougaard, Handre Pollard, Damian De Allende.