New Zealand have named a strong line-up, including all three Barrett brothers, for their final Rugby World Cup warm-up fixture against South Africa at neutral Twickenham on Friday.
Coach Ian Foster has selected the same backline that helped beat the Springboks 35-20 during the Rugby Championship in Auckland last month.
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Changes from that team include Luke Jacobson replacing Shannon Frizell at flanker, Sam Whitelock coming in for Brodie Retallick in the second row and Dane Coles replacing Codie Taylor at hooker.
Foster is keen to give his team a good run ahead of their World Cup opener against France in Paris on September 8, and this presents an excellent opportunity to do so against the old enemy and reigning world champions.
Aaron Smith is at scrumhalf with Richie Mo’unga in the No.10 jersey, and Rieko Ioane making up the midfield pairing with Jordie Barrett. The back three contains wings Mark Telea and Will Jordan, and Beauden Barrett.
Ardie Savea is at No.8 with captain Sam Cane and Jacobson as flankers, the second row is made up of Scott Barrett and Whitelock, while props Tyrel Lomax and Ethan de Groot pack down either side of Coles.
The All Blacks have made an impressive start to 2023, beating Australia twice to go with wins over Argentina and South Africa, a far cry from their wobbles in 2022 which almost cost Foster his job ahead of the World Cup.
Foster also took the chance to laugh off any links between Steve Hansen and Eddie Jones after their partnership left players “gobsmacked.”
“Outstanding. He’s (Hansen) agreed to give me three pages of notes about everything that’s going on in their camp,” he said with a smile.
“I chuckle at the headlines. You guys must be pretty excited by it, but he told me a month ago he was going in.
“He’s good mates with Eddie, but, mate, there’s no lack of trust or from his commitment to us and to what we do and sharing stuff, so I’ve got no issues really.
“In fact, we might bring him in for a couple of days.”
New Zealand (15-1): Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (capt), Luke Jacobson, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Tyrel Lomax, Dane Coles, Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Dalton Papali’i, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown.