Coach Dave Rennie has taken no chances and replaced a key All Blacks playmaker to face the Sharks in the second match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series on Tuesday.
New Zealand have confirmed scrumhalf Cam Roigard has been withdrawn as a precaution, with the 25-year-old nursing a tight calf.
Cortez Ratima, who started the 38-21 win over the Stormers in Cape Town last week, takes his place on the bench for the Kings Park clash.
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Roigard’s absence adds to a growing injury list for the tourists. No 8 Wallace Sititi missed last Friday’s match through illness, while hooker George Bell (calf strain) and centre Billy Proctor (fractured shoulder blade) have both been sent home.
Codie Taylor is also managing a calf issue, though Rennie has indicated the veteran rake and tour captain could be available against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.
ALL BLACKS – 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Kyle Preston, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Bench: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Ethan Blackadder, 20 Semisi Ta’eiloa, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
