WELLINGTON (AP) – New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson has included Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara on the bench for the All Blacks’ second Rugby Championship test against South Africa at Cape Town as he looks to add impact to his reserves.
Will Jordan will take over from Barrett as starting fullback tomorrow in a completely changed back three after playing on the right wing last weekend. Cortez Ratima will start a test for only the second time at scrumhalf in place of the veteran Perenara.
Robertson was forced to make two changes because of injuries: Caleb Clarke was ruled out with a back injury, replaced by Mark Tele’a on the left wing, and Sevu Reece starts on the right wing in place of Jordan. Wallace Sititi, the youngest member of Robertson’s squad at 21, will start on the blindside flank in place of Ethan Blackadder, who has a hamstring strain. It will be a huge challenge for the young Chiefs backrower who will be starting against the World Cup champions in only his second test.
The decision to demote Barrett and Perenara from the starting line-up strengthens the All Blacks’ bench as they attempt to counter the Springboks’ “bomb squad” which turned last weekend’s first test at Johannesburg in the home team’s favour.
New Zealand led by 10 points with around 15 minutes remaining. But South Africa scored two late tries with the help of impact from its bench to win the match 31-27.
“TJ and Beauden will add significant experience and leadership when they run out and the 23 selected will put in a performance our fans will be proud of,” Robertson said.
New Zealand must win tomorrow to avoid relinquishing the Freedom Cup, contested by the teams since 2004, and losing four consecutive matches against South Africa for the first time since 1949.
Last weekend’s defeat followed the All Blacks’ 12-11 loss to the Springboks in last year’s Rugby World Cup final and a loss in a warm-up match at Twickenham prior to the World Cup.
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made seven changes, including two positional switches to his winning line-up.
Winger Canan Moodie and scrumhalf Hendrikse have been named to make their first appearances since the World Cup, Hendrikse from the bench.
Moodie replaces Kurt-Lee Arendse who has a concussion and Cheslin Kolbe moves from the right wing to the left.
Two-time World Cup winners Willie le Roux and Lukhanyo Am also return to the side, le Roux at fullback and Am on the bench.
Lock Eben Etzebeth returns to the starting line-up after being named among the reserves in the first test due to a knee injury.
