All Blacks team named for Test against South Africa
The All Blacks side to play South Africa in the Investec Rugby Championship Test at Emirates Airline (formerly Ellis) Park, Johannesburg, on Saturday 25 July has been named, with lock James Broadhurst and first five-eighths Lima Sopoaga to make their Test debuts.
The team is: (with Test caps in brackets. New All Blacks in bold)
Starting XV:
1. Tony Woodcock (112)
2. Dane Coles (27)
3. Owen Franks (69)
4. Brodie Retallick (38)
5. James Broadhurst
6. Liam Messam (41)
7. Richie McCaw – captain (139)
8. Kieran Read (74)
9. Aaron Smith (38)
10. Lima Sopoaga
11. Charles Piutau (16)
12. Ma’a Nonu (95)
13. Conrad Smith (85)
14. Ben Smith (38)
15. Israel Dagg (48)
Reserves:
16. Codie Taylor (1)
17. Wyatt Crockett (38)
18. Ben Franks (41)
19. Samuel Whitelock (63)
20. Victor Vito (26)
21. TJ Perenara (12)
22. Beauden Barrett (28)
23. Malakai Fekitoa (8)
Sopoaga comes in for Daniel Carter at first five-eighths and Broadhurst takes over from Luke Romano. In other changes in the starting XV, Dane Coles comes in at hooker with Liam Messam at blindside flanker. In the backs, Aaron Smith returns to the starting halfback position, while the world-record midfield combo of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith is back. As well, with a desire to continue to give Israel Dagg more game time, Ben Smith is named on the right wing.
On the bench, Ben Franks comes in as reserve prop alongside Wyatt Crockett, Codie Taylor retains the reserve hooker jersey, Sam Whitelock is reserve lock, with Victor Vito covering the loose forwards. TJ Perenara is reserve halfback, with Beauden Barrett and Malakai Fekitoa the other back reserves.
Broadhurst and Sopoaga will be surrounded by a hugely experienced All Blacks side, with the starting forward pack boasting exactly 500 Test caps experience, with a further 320 caps in the starting backline and 217 on the bench.
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “This is a massive Test for us and one the whole group is looking forward to. It doesn’t get much bigger or better than playing South Africa at Ellis Park. Both teams have a massive amount of respect for each other, both on and off the paddock.
“We know that we will have to step up again this week from our performance against Argentina. Though we were happier with our game last weekend, there is a genuine desire to take it up a level. The Springboks will be desperate after their loss last week and we will have to better that desperation with our own urgency, intensity and accuracy in the execution of our game and skillsets.”
Key points of interest
* This will be the 90th Test match between the two great rugby rivals, with the All Blacks having won 51, the Springboks 35 with three draws. The last Test between the two sides was again at Ellis Park in last year’s Investec Rugby Championship, with South Africa winning 27-25 that day.
* All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw will play his 140th Test this weekend and become the second most capped player of all time, overtaking George Gregan (139) and one behind Irishman Brian O’Driscoll.
* Kieran Read will play his 75th Test this weekend while the All Blacks second most capped prop, Owen Franks, will rack up his 70th Test.
* The All Blacks have scored 13,985 points in their history and will become the first international side to score 14,000 Test points. Next on the list is France with 12,926 points.
The new All Blacks – mini biographies
James Broadhurst
Position: Lock
Height: 2.01m
Weight: 122kg
Born: 1 December 1987 in Kaitaia
Super Rugby team and debut: Hurricanes, 2012
Province: Taranaki
James Broadhurst is a hard-working lock who supports his team with power in the engine room and an impressive habit of stealing the ball off his opponents. Broadhurst first pulled on a black jersey as a New Zealand Under 19 representative, in 2006, and was then selected for the 2007 New Zealand Under 21 side; both teams included a number of future All Blacks. After several solid seasons of provincial rugby, he was a vital part of the Taranaki team that secured the ITM Cup Premiership title in 2014. That form carried over into the Hurricanes 2015 Investec Super Rugby season, where he impressed with his athleticism, consistency and technical ability.
Lima Sopoaga
Position: First five-eighths
Height: 1.75m
Weight: 91kg
Born: 3 February 1991 in Wellington
Super Rugby team and debut: Highlanders, 2011
Province: Southland
Lima Sopoaga is an extremely skilful first five-eighth who was identified as a rugby talent at a young age. Wellington-born and raised, Sopoaga accepted an offer from the Highlanders in 2011. The same year he was part of the New Zealand Under 20 team’s Junior World Championship-winning campaign in Italy. Injuries affected his 2012 and 2013 Super Rugby seasons, but in 2014 and the Super Rugby-winning 2015 season, regular game time suited the young playmaker. Along with time spent outside All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith, Sopoaga built a reputation for taking the ball to the line, and for creating exciting opportunities for his powerful wings.
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