Full-back Beauden Barrett will captain New Zealand for the first time when he leads out the All Blacks for the Nations Championship game against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has made eight starting changes from the side that defeated Scotland 43-21 at Murrayfield with 10 alterations in the match-day 23.
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It will be 35-year-old Barrett’s first time as starting skipper in his 149th international with brother Scott also named at lock, while Richie Mo’unga is at fly-half.
“Beauden brings such valuable experience and is massively respected by us all,” said Rennie.
“Captaining the All Blacks in a Test is an honour I know he doesn’t take lightly, so it’ll be a proud day for him and his whanau [family].”
No Jordan for All Blacks in Cardiff
The All Blacks defeated Scotland 43-21 last Saturday, but record try-scoring wing Will Jordan (hamstring) and centre Jordie Barratt (facial) picked up injuries and are absent against Wales.
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Flanker Anton Segner and wing Fehi Fineanganofo, whose move to Newcastle Red Bulls in the summer was delayed by a year, make their first Test starts.
Segner, prop George Bower, hooker Asafo Aumua and scrum-half Cortez Ratima move from the replacements into the starting side.
Mo’unga, Fineanganofo, lock Josh Lord and centre Anton Lienert-Brown also come into the side.
“We have created good depth in this group and there is a lot of competition for places,” said Rennie.
“We have selected a strong squad with 783 caps.”
New Zealand have won the past 34 Tests against Wales in a winning sequence that stretches back to 1953.
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“Wales are a proud rugby nation and building nicely under Steve Tandy,” said Rennie.
“We are well aware of the threat they pose and the challenge of playing in front of a passionate crowd at Principality Stadium.”
New Zealand and South African are currently unbeaten in the southern hemisphere table.
The rivals are battling for top spot before the play-off weekend at the end of the month.
New Zealand team to face Wales
New Zealand: B Barrett (capt); Fineanganofo, Tupaea, Lienert-Brown, Moorby; Mo’unga, Ratima; Bower, Aumua, Newell, S Barrett, Lord, Segner, Lakai, Sititi.
Replacements: Bell, Numia, Tosi, Hannah, E Blackadder, Fainga’anuku, Preston, R Ioane.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
