JOHANNESBURG – With the four-test rugby series between New Zealand and South Africa deadlocked at one win apiece, New Zealand’s national side the All Blacks have announced major forward pack changes for the deciding third test this weekend at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium, headlined by the promotion of hooker Asafo Aumua to the starting lineup over veteran Codie Taylor.
The All Blacks revealed their revised matchday 23 on Thursday, which also sees debutant series involvement for lock Sam Darry and flanker Peter Lakai, who earn starting spots after coming off the bench in the first two matches. The backline, however, remains entirely unchanged following the All Blacks’ narrow 33-26 loss to the Springboks last Saturday in Cape Town.
Taylor, the 111-test veteran who had started every one of New Zealand’s five test matches in 2024 – including the first two outings against South Africa – has been dropped from the starting 15, ending his run of opening selections this season. Aumua, who had served as Taylor’s primary backup through the first two tests of the series, will now step into the starting hooker role, with Samisoni Taukei’aho retained as a reserve.
Darry earns his first start of the series at lock, displacing Fabian Holland who moves down to the reserves bench. Lakai, who came off the bench in both opening tests, claims the number 6 starting jersey after Simon Parker was cut from the matchday 23 squad. Flanker Wallace Sititi will also get his first taste of action in the series, named as the impact substitute loose forward. The test will also mark a personal milestone for lock Tupou Vaa’i, who is set to earn his 50th career test cap for the All Blacks.
Speaking ahead of the high-stakes clash, All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie framed the match as a do-or-die encounter for the series title. “The team that doesn’t win this weekend can’t win the series,” Rennie said in an official statement. “That’s the kind of challenge we love to rise to.”
The Springboks, South Africa’s national side, revealed their own matchday squad earlier this week on Monday. The side made just one key adjustment to their starting lineup, swapping out injured starting fullback Damian Willemse for star utility back Cheslin Kolbe, with winger Kurt-Lee Arendse stepping into Kolbe’s former starting spot on the wing.
The full All Blacks matchday squad for the third test is as follows:
Starting XV: Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ardie Savea (captain), Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai, Sam Darry, Tupou Vaa’i, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, George Bower.
Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Fabian Holland, Wallace Sititi, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby.