All Blacks team v Sharks: Luke Jacobson appointed captain and two debutants named as Dave Rennie calls in the big guns
All Blacks back-row Luke Jacobson and head coach Dave Rennie (inset).
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has rung the changes to his starting line-up and appointed Luke Jacobson as captain for their clash against the Sharks in Durban on Tuesday.
After getting Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour off to a winning start against the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday night, Rennie has made 15 changes to his run-on side for the match against the Sharks.
Rennie has named Jacobson as the All Blacks‘ leader, and he will pack down on the openside flank against the Sharks in an exciting back-row which also features Wallace Sititi and Tupou Vaa’i, who will line up at number eight and on the blindside flank respectively.
Two potential debutants named on the bench
There are also two potential debutants in New Zealand’s matchday squad with hooker Bradley Slater and loose forward Semisi Ta’eiloa set to make their All Blacks bows from the bench in Durban.
Slater’s All Blacks career is off to a whirlwind start, with the 27-year-old flying in to join the squad just five days ago as a replacement for the injured George Bell.
Meanwhile, seven players from the All Blacks side that clinched a 38-21 victory over the Stormers at the DHL Stadium have again been named in the matchday 23 for this second match of the tour.
Hooker Asafo Aumua, lock Sam Darry, scrum-half Kyle Preston, and wing Caleb Clarke, who all came off the bench against the men from the Cape, will start against the Sharks.
Front-row Pasilio Tosi, who started in the Stormers encounter, will provide impact from the bench, alongside fellow prop Ollie Norris and loose forward Ethan Blackadder, who get their second bench start of the tour.
Josh Lord joins Darry in the second-row while Ruben Love lines up alongside Preston at fly-half as the starting halfback duo, and Fehi Fineanganofo (wing) and Damian McKenzie (full-back) will form an exciting back three with Clarke.
The rest of the starting backline sees Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea lining up as the centres while up front Aumua packs down alongside Fletcher Newell and Ethan de Groot, who are the two props.
Rennie is looking forward to Jacobson leading the team, and it will be a momentous occasion for the 29-year-old as it will be the first time that he captains the All Blacks.
“Luke is the obvious choice to captain the team against the Sharks,” said the head coach. “He is highly respected, has a great feel for the game and will lead through his actions.”
Rennie is also excited by the prospect of Slater and Ta’eiloa making their All Blacks debuts and expects a tough challenge from the Sharks.
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“Two more players will pull on the All Blacks jersey for the first time against the Sharks. On behalf of the whole squad, I want to congratulate Semisi and Bradley on achieving this very special milestone, and I know their family and friends will be incredibly proud,” he said.
“The opening match gave the players a real introduction to the way that South African teams play and the Sharks will be no different.
“With a short turnaround between games, today has been a big day of preparation. There is a lot of excitement in the group, with the majority of the squad about to play their first game of the tour.”
All Blacks team to face the Sharks
New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Kyle Preston, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Ethan Blackadder, 20 Semisi Ta’eiloa, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa
Date: Tuesday, August 11
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 19:00 (local SAST), 18:00 (UK), 19:00 (France), 03:00 (12 August, AEST), 05:00 (12 August, New Zealand), 14:00 (Argentina), 02:00 (12 August, JST), 13:00 (EDT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU) and Hollie Davidson (SRU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
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