Scott Barrett to start for All Blacks against England

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All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has made just one alteration to his starting XV for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against England in Yokohama.

Utility forward Scott Barrett comes in to the run-on side to start on the blindside flank. Barrett’s inclusion in the starting team means Ardie Savea moves to the openside flank while Sam Cane drops to the replacements bench.

The only alteration to the matchday squad which beat Ireland in the quarter-finals sees Patrick Tuipulotu coming in on the bench as a replacement for the injured Matt Todd.

Hansen said: “There’s no doubt that this is a huge game and there’s a lot of excitement around it. We know what we have to do and we’ve had a great week’s preparation. The team is exactly where we want to be, mentally and physically, ahead of the weekend.

“We’re really looking forward to this opportunity. It’s all about this game and the moments it will bring. In these moments, the word pressure is bandied around quite readily.

“However, that pressure is always there whenever you play quality opposition, regardless of who you are. It’s about how you handle that in the moment and not getting distracted by the past or the future.

“Both teams have a common goal, which is to make the Final. However, we’ve arrived at this point with vastly different experiences from previous Rugby World Cups. No doubt, those experiences will resurface throughout the week and even in the game itself.

“Let’s hope the game lives up to the expectation that both teams will have, and is one for the ages.”

Meanwhile, it’s a significant match for hooker Codie Taylor who will play his 50th Test.

“On behalf of the players and management, we congratulate Codie on reaching this special milestone. You couldn’t ask for a better occasion to mark this,” said Hansen.

“We’re really looking forward to the great atmosphere that a Rugby World Cup semi-final brings and we know that there are many Kiwi fans who have travelled from home to support us.

“There are also many Japanese fans who will be at Yokohama cheering us on. We hope that we can put in a performance that will make them proud.”

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Scott Barrett, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Sam Cane, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Sonny Bill Williams, 23 Jordie Barrett

Date: Saturday, October 26
Venue: International Stadium, Yokohama
Kick-off: 17:00 (09:00 BST, 08:00 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Pascal Gaüzère (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

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