All Blacks name Codie Taylor as captain and Richie Mo’unga at 10 for Baltimore decider
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- Dave Rennie has reshaped his All Blacks side for the decisive Baltimore showdown with the Springboks
- Richie Mo’unga gets another chance to face South Africa after a lengthy absence from the Test starting line-up
- Several injury setbacks have forced New Zealand into significant changes for the final match of the series
Source: Getty Images
Codie Taylor will captain a much-changed All Blacks side against the Springboks in Baltimore on Saturday, 12 September 2026, while Richie Mo’unga makes his long-awaited return to the starting line-up at flyhalf.
New Zealand trail South Africa 2-1 after the Springboks won last Saturday’s third Test 29-24 at FNB Stadium.
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The All Blacks have also lost captain Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea to injuries. Fabian Holland is unavailable through illness. Savea suffered a dislocated shoulder after scoring twice in Johannesburg, while Tupaea sustained an MCL injury.
Taylor replaces Savea as captain after being left out of the starting XV for the third Test.
Richie Mo’unga returns for crucial Test
Mo’unga’s selection is one of the biggest talking points. The 32-year-old is set to start his first All Blacks Test since the 2023 World Cup final against South Africa.
According to Reuters, Rennie said Mo’unga would have played in Baltimore regardless of the series position, adding:
“We’re keen to give Richie a crack, and he’s prepared really well this week.”
The changes extend beyond the backline. Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ethan Blackadder and Anton Lienert-Brown make their first Test starts of the series.
According to the official All Blacks website, Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord also return after progressing through World Rugby’s concussion protocols.
The final Test is particularly significant for New Zealand because victory would level the four-Test series. The match will also be the All Blacks’ first Test at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. The venue can accommodate more than 70,000 spectators.
Full All Blacks team for Baltimore
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Beauden Barrett. (Reuters)
Rennie said the changes had been planned and that the selected players had earned their opportunities.
“We have everything to play for on Saturday,” he said. “It is our chance to draw the series and end the tour with a performance to be proud of.”
The match kicks off at 11 pm South African time on Saturday, 12 September.
Source: Getty Images
Baltimore Test carries a major financial incentive
Briefly News previously reported that moving the fourth Test to the United States could prove highly lucrative for both the Springboks and All Blacks, with each union reportedly set to pocket an additional R90 million compared with hosting the match in South Africa.
The financial incentive is tied to the wider Baltimore package rather than ticket revenue alone. World Rugby is also supporting the event as part of its efforts to strengthen rugby’s presence in the US ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup, adding further commercial value to the high-profile fixture.
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Source: Briefly News
