New Zealand coach Ian Foster has bet on an experienced team including forwards with more than 500 caps to challenge South Africa on Friday at Twickenham, the last test before the World Cup in France. Foster relies on the experience of hooker Dane Coles, second line Samuel Whitelock (the most capped with 145 caps), captain Sam Cane and third line Ardie Savea, in particular, against the reigning world champions.
The third line wing Luke Jacobsen, never established during the preparation for the World Cup, will be the least capped of this group of forwards with a fifteenth selection expected in front of the 82,000 spectators of Twickenham. The All Blacks had presented themselves with a revamped team in their last match, against Australia (23-20) in early August in Dunedin, which did not prevent them from stretching their unbeaten streak to eleven matches. .
They won their last confrontation against South Africa (35-20) in July and are confidently advancing towards the World Cup, where they will face hosts France at the opening on September 8. In the camp opposite, the Springboks have just made a real demonstration against Wales (52-16) on Saturday.
Beauden Barrett – Jordan, Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Telea – (o) Mo’unga, (m) Smith – Cane (cap.), Savea, Jacobson – Whitelock, Scott Barrett – Lomax, Coles, de Groot
Replacements: Taukei’aho, Williams, Newell, Vaa’i, Lord, Papali’i, Roigard, Lienert-Brown