Sam Cane back as skipper for All Blacks against Italy

Planet Rugby

New Zealand will have regular captain Sam Cane back in their starting line-up when they take on Italy in their Autumn Nations Series clash at the Stadio Olimpico.

Cane returns to the XV after a long lay-off and joins blindside flanker Luke Jacobson and number eight Hoskins Sotutu in the back-row for the meeting in Rome.

The squad sees the young locking partnership of Tupou Vaa’i and Josh Lord named to start in the second-row. It will be 21-year-old Vaa’i’s fourth start in his 10th Test while 20-year-old Lord gets his first international start after making his debut against the USA in the first Test of their end-of-year northern tour.

Dane Coles at hooker

The duo will have the experience of 77-Test hooker Dane Coles with them, together with props George Bower and Tyrel Lomax, in a changed front-row this Saturday.

The starting pack will be ably supported by hooker Asafo Aumua, props Ethan de Groot and Ofa Tuungafasi, lock Samuel Whitelock and the returning Shannon Frizell.

In the backline, Brad Weber is at half-back and Richie Mo’unga has been named at 10, while the young centre pairing of Quinn Tupaea and Braydon Ennor earn starts.

George Bridge is on the left wing, Sevu Reece is on the right and Damian McKenzie is at full-back. The back reserves are scrum-half Finlay Christie, centre David Havili and outside back Jordie Barrett.

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster said: “We’ve had a great week here in Rome. It’s very stimulating to be in this city and, whilst we can’t get out as much as we like, it’s great to have the players experience a new culture, and that’s all part of generating energy in a squad when you’re touring.

“We are ready and prepared for this weekend. We know it’s a really big game for us when it comes to improving our skillsets and decision-making as we’ve made that a bit of a focus this week. The team that’s been selected has been given the job of ensuring we grow in those areas from our game against Wales.

“With this tour we have an objective of growing the opportunities and the depth in this group. We’ve been driving our performances upwards because the competition and the energy in the squad has been huge. This week is about this particular group putting another marker down.”

New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Josh Lord, 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Dane Coles, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ethan de Groot, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Samuel Whitelock, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 David Havili, 23 Jordie Barrett

Date: Saturday, November 6
Venue: Stadio Olimpico
Kick-off: 14:00 local (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)