LYON, France (AP) — Sam Cane has reassumed the captaincy of a much-changed New Zealand side tasked with clinching a quarterfinal spot at the Rugby World Cup against Uruguay on Thursday.
The bonus-point win from their first meeting with Los Teros should not be too much trouble for an All Blacks side with nine changes.
After demolishing Italy 96-17 last Friday, the All Blacks chose on Tuesday to give fringe players game time and rest front-liners in preparation for an expected quarterfinal next week.
Cane makes his first start in the pool stage after a back twinge. He proved his fitness off the bench in the last quarter against Italy. Luke Jacobson at No. 8 gives Ardie Savea his first test off all year.
Tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax starts for the first time in four tests after accidentally gashing his thigh. He had 30 minutes off the bench against Italy.
There’s a new second row of Sam Whitelock, who will play his 150th test, and Tupou Vaa’i. Brodie Retallick was rested and Scott Barrett was in the reserves.
Whitelock will also own outright the Rugby World Cup appearance record. His 23rd match will surpass England’s Jason Leonard and New Zealand’s Richie McCaw.
The backline changes see scrumhalf Cam Roigard, center Anton Lienert-Brown, wing Leicester Fainga’anuku and fullback Damian McKenzie play instead of Aaron Smith, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea and Beauden Barrett, who was in the reserves.
The reserves have been refilled with forwards Samisoni Taukei’aho and Ethan Blackadder — the injury replacement who could make his Rugby World Cup debut — and backs Finlay Christie and Caleb Clarke.
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New Zealand: Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Cam Roigard; Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane (captain), Shannon Frizell, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ofa Tu’ungafasi. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Ethan Blackadder, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke.
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AP Rugby World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
