'Mr Fixit' is back: Piri Weepu
Related links
Teams
Also see
Scrum-half Piri Weepu will make his first start for New Zealand since the World Cup in Saturday's Rugby Championship clash with the Springboks in Dunedin.
Weepu returns to the number nine jersey on the back of an excellent performance off the bench against Argentina last week when he played an influential role in steadying the Kiwis' ship.
The 62-cap Test veteran takes the place of Aaron Smith - who has started the previous six All Blacks Tests this year - as the only change to the backline.
Head coach Steve Hansen has made three alterations to his pack, with Sam Whitelock replacing Brodie Retallick in the second-row and Liam Messam coming on to the blindside of the scrum for Victor Vito.
In the front-row, Highlanders hooker Andrew Hore gets the chance to start a Test at his franchise's home ground, ahead of Keven Mealamu.
Retallick, Vito and Mealamu all drop to the bench, but there is no place for Adam Thomson nor Ben Franks in the matchday 22.
The only other change to the bench is in the form of utility-back Tamati Ellison, who replaces Ben Smith.
"At the halfway stage of the... Rugby Championship we are very happy, from a results point of view," said Hansen, referring to New Zealand's perfect tournament record to date.
"There is a second challenge we have set ourselves, to constantly improve our game and in that regard we are not the finished product. However, the coaching staff and team leaders are reasonably happy with the progress we are making."
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Brodie Retallick, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Beauden Barrett, 22 Tamati Ellison.
Date: Saturday, September 15
Kick-off: 19:35 (08:35 BST, 07:35 GMT)
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: George Clancy (IRE)
Comments
georgesmith says...
Bad choice. P.Weepu is slow and sometimes the options he takes is poor. Springboks have a chance.
Posted 00:36 14th September 2012
Euskadi says...
I would have liked to have seen Smith start against the Boks, quicker service and snippier around the rucks. I like Weepu but I think he would've been a better choice to start last week for the conditions.
Apart from that happy with the team and cant wait for Saturday
Posted 14:04 13th September 2012
PTplayer says...
So... Franks is out. It has come to that... I can already imagine the sigh of relief of the Bok forwards: no more big hits from Frank!
Posted 11:42 13th September 2012
tha_mai says...
regardless of the team protocol breach by smith, about time Piri Weepu go some game time - and Smith had a rest - easy to forget he has only had six part-tests in his AB career. The idea of throwing in Kerr-Barlow as the other 9 - crazy to have two so new in the team - there are already seven in this 22 with 6 or less caps most of them as subs, and squad-wise of course with Carter out Weepu offers an option at 10 after Cruden and Barrett.
get over the fat jokes, yes he was, but hit goal months ago.
UBA05 - watch last week's game? waiting on your count of how many balls Savea lost in those stormy conditions - and this match inside a closed stadium. Dream on. . And suggesting SA has a gameplan - well they manged to kick it once every 25 seconds they had possession last week - so that is about it. Kick and hope.
Posted 10:06 13th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Pretty good AB team with a great mix of youth and experience.. to think there are 6 from 22 in their debut season, the future looks good.
Posted 09:47 13th September 2012
Bones7 says...
Smith's been dropped due to an unspecified breach of team protocol...
Posted 09:16 13th September 2012
cuw3100 says...
@ ArmchairGeneral : LOL I always thought he was in the 22 just to lead the HAKA :)
Posted 08:11 13th September 2012
PREEST says...
I can see the ABs absolutely running away with this one. The second half that the Boks put out against the Wallabies was dismal. A struggling Wallabies side was able to put them away. I think the ABs should win this one by 20.
Posted 06:41 13th September 2012
new_j4a says...
@ArmchairGeneral, LOL. He looks like he has shed a few pounds...now, if only he can be made to shed a few tears....fat chance I fear...ooops, let me rephrase that...no chance. ABs by 25+
Posted 06:39 13th September 2012
passtheball says...
"Mr Fixit" - hmm he wasnt that in the W Cup final - quite the opposite. Good to see a decent fitness level is back - too late to help Pat Lam's career though. I think Smith would have been benched anyway this week.
Posted 06:04 13th September 2012
jonesy2 says...
should rest dagg not smith. dont see how tamani ellison, as great a player as he is, gets a spot ahead of fruean. wellington represented well in the backline, wow, piri, cruden, savea, maa, conrad, jane.
Posted 05:46 13th September 2012
shaz13 says...
ArmchairGeneral says...
He may need a rest after the Haka
Or just a pie..
Posted 01:34 13th September 2012
brands says...
Aaron Smith was stood down for breaking team protocal (arived late back at the team hotel) after the Argie game
Posted 00:41 13th September 2012
Ferdie says...
only five - dagg, messam, whitelock, mealamu and woodcock from the team that lost 5-18 v sa last year.
the 'old' blokes: nonu's 70th test, conrad smith's 60th. woodcock's 89th putting him 5th equal (with carter) on all-time ab tests
Posted 00:29 13th September 2012
freddo says...
Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb. Aaron Smith played averagely in very testing conditions in Wellington, and Weepu was playing against a worn down Argentine opposition. When will Hansen stop making these rash shotgun changes? Same goes with Victor Vito, who was terrible last week, Messam should have started. Weepu shouldn't even be on the squad, Kerr-Barlow would be a better choice. Give the young blood some game time, Weepu is spent.
Posted 22:52 12th September 2012
freddo says...
Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb. Aaron Smith played averagely in very testing conditions in Wellington, and Weepu was playing against a worn down Argentine opposition. When will Hansen stop making these rash shotgun changes? Same goes with Victor Vito, who was terrible last week, Messam should have started. Weepu shouldn't even be on the squad, Kerr-Barlow would be a better choice. Give the young blood some game time, Weepu is spent.
Posted 22:52 12th September 2012
rugby_phile says...
I must admit, very surprised at the Smith/Weepu switch, last week would have been a better time to do it. This week's game indoors would have been perfect for Smith. Ahhh well, I guess they still have the artillery if they play well. Also surprised at Ben Smith's exclusion, he has impressed, I guess they want to give Tamati some game time. Still feel ABs by about 16 if they play well, but I have gone on record saying that if they are off colour, this is one team that can bring them down.
Posted 22:32 12th September 2012
melkdave says...
Well he certianaly got the ABs going forward ,last week,and played really well,so i guess his earned his chance .Have to say its also nice to see T.Ellison on the bench,once again the NZ management look to blood some exciting new player on the international stage,The production line just never stops does it LOL
Posted 22:32 12th September 2012
UBA05 says...
Oh and I hope bigboy Savea has worked on his fielding of the high ball. With the Sa gameplan and the prowess of Jane and Dagg in that department, he can expect bombs-away in his direction all night
Posted 21:56 12th September 2012
UBA05 says...
@ armchairgeneral Hahaha funny stuff
Will the fat boy keep up? Ok ok slightly?former fatboy? 50/50?
Good to finally see Ellison there or thereabout.
Hore to add a bit more competition for the ball on the ground.
With Faumuina in the squad, the curse of being a non-starting prop and not being a tighthead (predominantly atleast) finally has caught up with B.franks
Posted 21:48 12th September 2012