Scott Robertson names his squad to face South Africa

All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson and his co-selectors, Assistant Coaches Scott Hansen, Jason Holland, Jason Ryan and Tamati Ellison have named their All Blacks team to play South Africa in the third match of the 2024 Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg.  

All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets) 
  
1.    Tamaiti Williams (9) 
2.    Codie Taylor (89)  
3.    Tyrel Lomax (36)  
4.    Scott Barrett (72) (Captain) 
5.    Tupou Vaa’i (30)  
6.    Ethan Blackadder (13) 
7.    Sam Cane (96)  
8.    Ardie Savea (86) (Vice Captain) 
9.    TJ Perenara (84) 
10.  Damian McKenzie (52) 
11.  Caleb Clarke (22) 
12.  Jordie Barrett (62) (Vice Captain) 
13.  Rieko Ioane (73) 
14.  Will Jordan (33) 
15.  Beauden Barrett (128) 
 
16. Asafo Aumua (11) 
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (61) 
18. Fletcher Newell (18) 
19. Sam Darry (3)  
20. Samipeni Finau (3)  
21. Cortez Ratima (4) 
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (75) 
23. Mark Tele’a (13) 
 

Unavailable due to injury: Dalton Papali’i (thumb). 
 
Lock Scott Barrett returns to captain the All Blacks side to play South Africa at Johannesburg’s Emirates Airline Park (Ellis Park). 

Barrett, who missed the All Blacks last two Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship Tests due to a broken finger, is one of three changes to the match day 23 that beat Argentina 38-30 at Eden Park. 

Sam Cane is named at openside in what will be his 97th Test, and first start since the Rugby World Cup final last year, while blindside Samipeni Finau comes into the reserves. Finau’s last Test came during the All Blacks 24-17 win over England at Eden Park in July. 
 
All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson said: 

“To play South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the greatest tests you can prepare for; we will embrace the occasion. We have a lot of respect for the Springboks and we are looking forward to what will be an electric atmosphere at an iconic venue.” 

MATCH FACTS 

• This will the 16th time that the All Blacks and Springboks meet at Ellis Park. 

• The first game between New Zealand and South Africa at Ellis Park was in 1928, which saw the visitors beat their hosts 7-6. 

• South Africa has won 9 of the 15 meetings at Ellis Park. 

• The average score between the two teams at Ellis Park is 23-22. 

• The All Blacks have played the Springboks 106 times since 1921 for 62 wins, 40 losses and 4 draws. 

• The Test match will also be the first of two Tests to decide the Freedom Cup, which has been contested since it was introduced in 2004. 

• The All Blacks have held the Freedom Cup since 2010.