The All Blacks team to face the Springboks in their second Rugby Championship test in Wellington has been revealed, and it could well be the most intriguing side coach Scott Robertson has named in 2025.
It is very unlike New Zealand Rugby to swing the axe and make mass changes, especially after a win as vital as the one at Eden Park five days ago.
And even putting aside two necessary changes at hooker and wing – with Codie Taylor and Emoni Narawa ruled out – there is another big change in the backline that will turn a few heads.
Leroy Carter is set to make his test debut on the wing, replacing Rieko Ioane. While nothing has been confirmed as of yet by the All Blacks, MediaWorks understands Ioane's exclusion is due to family reasons as opposed to form.
Nigel Yalden told the DSPN podcast Carter possesses a similar game to Cheslin Kolbe, who he'll be marking on the weekend.
“It's not an easy challenge in your first test, you're going up against Cheslin Kolbe, who I suspect will be a very motivated young man because he was not the Cheslin Kolbe that we know he can be [last week]. He got a few opportunities, but normally he makes so much of them.
“We know what a skillful, balanced, bouncy quick, player that Cheslin Kolbe is. We also know that Leroy Carter can do exactly the same stuff... he [Carter] is good in the air. Two diminutive guys, but they have the ability to get up.”
In a change that was expected, Will Jordan shifts to the right wing with Damian McKenzie elevated from the bench to starting fullback.
At halfback, Finlay Christie will come off the pine, with Noah Hotham now healthy and, as a result, promoted to the starting job. This is the clearest possible indication around where both sit in the number nine pecking order.
Even Christie’s calm and measured performance on a wet Eden Park turf couldn’t change the selectors’ minds.
Yalden reckons the All Blacks coaches will have a specific message for Hotham.
“Go as long as you can and when you are feeling it, tell us and we will give you the hook. Now, whether that's with 10 to go in the first half, whether it's five into the second, doesn't matter. Get out there. Go as long as you can.
“We back you. We picked you initially. So you are our guy.
"When you look at the pecking order, he is the number one based on what we saw at the start of the season... I think it's a case of, because he's been out for so long, let's set him out there."
Ruben Love – who can cover 15 and first-five – will be in the 23 jumper, and is joined by Quinn Tupaea as the extra backline options.
For Carter, his elevation to the starting side means he is now ahead of Caleb Clarke in the outside back depth chart – an interesting development, given he was injury cover for Clarke when the tournament squad was first announced in early August.
The 24-17 win in Auckland – ending a run of four straight losses to the Boks – no doubt calmed the nerves within New Zealand’s camp, so much so that Razor and Co. are comfortable in trying out a few new things.
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