All Blacks Drop Reiko Ioane And Ethan Blackadder For Springboks Decider
- All Blacks coach Dave Rennie left Reiko Ioane out of the match-day 23 entirely for the series decider against South Africa
- Quinn Tupaea will start at outside centre, with Tupou Vaa'i set to earn his 50th Test cap on Saturday
- Ethan Blackadder, named Player of the Match in a previous Test, also missed the cut for the crucial clash
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All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has made one of his most talked-about selection calls of the series, leaving Reiko Ioane out of the match-day 23 entirely for the third Test against South Africa, scheduled for Saturday, 5 September at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. The series is currently locked at one win apiece, making the clash a virtual knockout match. Rennie's decision to omit Ioane, a player of considerable experience and recent form, caught many supporters off guard.
Tupaea to Start, Vaa'i to Reach Milestone
Quinn Tupaea has been named at outside centre in Ioane's place, while Anton Lienert-Brown takes a spot on the bench. Tupou Vaa'i, who lines up at lock, will earn his 50th Test cap on the day. Speaking about the milestone, Rennie said:
"Tupes is a top man. It'll be a special day for him and his family and additional motivation for us."
Rennie was characteristically direct about the pressure facing both sides.
"The team that doesn't win this weekend can't win the series. That's the kind of challenge we love to rise to."
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Blackadder Also Left Out Despite Award-Winning Display
Ioane is not the only high-profile name absent from the 23. Flanker Ethan Blackadder, who was named Player of the Match in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions, has also been left out. Peter Lakai starts at number six, and Wallace Sititi returns to the squad as loose forward impact, making his first appearance in the series. In other changes from the second Test, Asafo Aumua starts at hooker in the place of veteran Cordie Taylor, with Samisoni Taukei'aho providing cover from the bench, and Sam Darry comes into the starting lock pairing. Beyond Vaa'i's half-century, several other numerical landmarks are set to be reached: Damian McKenzie will earn his 80th Test cap, Will Jordan his 60th, Fletcher Newell his 40th, and Luke Jacobson his 30th. Ardie Savea captains the side for his 111th Test appearance. Last weekend, Savea scored his 33rd Test try, pushing the combined total for the Savea brothers to a world record 79 Test tries between siblings, surpassing the Barrett brothers' previous mark of 78. Kick-off is scheduled for 5:10PM local South African time. The third Test will be preceded by a historic first-ever women's Test on South African soil, with the Black Ferns facing the Springbok Women at 1:30PM local time.
Source: Briefly News
