Why Sam Whitelock has been handed All Black captaincy over Ardie Savea
All Blacks skipper Sam Cane will miss the Rugby Championship decider against Australia, with Sam Whitelock leading New Zealand as they chase the title.
Coach Ian Foster has made five changes to the team that pocketed the Bledisloe Cup for another year with their 39-37 triumph in Melbourne last Thursday.
Cane, who like David Havili suffered a head knock in last week’s Test and will miss the Eden Park rematch, will be replaced at seven by Dalton Papali’i.
As predicted, Ardie Savea returns to the XV after staying in New Zealand last week for the birth of his third child.
Foster has opted for Whitelock, who will earn his 140th cap, as skipper over Savea, allowing the tyro No.8 to get back into the groove.
“It takes a bit of adjustment when you miss a week,” Foster said.
“We really felt it was better for Ardie to get back into it and get his mind onto his role.”
Jordie Barrett, who scored the match-winning 81st-minute try last week, will be unleashed in midfield at inside centre while brother Beauden Barrett jumps from the bench to start on the wing.
Akira Ioane and Codie Taylor also come into the starting side, while in-form forward Scott Barrett misses due to calf tightness and Samisoni Taukei’aho goes to the bench.
Taukei’aho scored a double last week but Foster said he’d opted for Taylor for his freshness “to change the picture a little bit”.
Despite the changes and poor early season form, the All Blacks are firm favourites at their house of pain, Eden Park, where they are unbeaten against the Wallabies since 1986.
Foster’s side can claim the southern hemisphere title by beating Australia with a better result than South Africa, who play Argentina a few hours later in Durban.
“It’s got a final-type feel,” Foster said.
“If you look at the state of the rugby championship, there’s a few unknowns isn’t there … but there’s a massive part that we can control.
“This is what Test match rugby is all about and we can’t wait.”
Quinn Tupaea is also out after suffering a season-ending knee injury at the hands of Wallabies lock Darcy Swain last week.
The Sanzaar judiciary handed Swain a six-week ban for the illegal cleanout.
The Wallabies hold a mathematical, if unlikely, chance of winning the Rugby Championship, but must beat New Zealand handily and hope Argentina upset South Africa.
ALL BLACKS XV: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali’i, Akira Iaone, Sam Whitelock (c), Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan De Groot. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Tupou Vaa’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Sevu Reece.
Comments on RugbyPass
1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to comments