All Blacks coach Ian Foster has tweaked his backline for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against South Africa after his wings struggled against the high ball last week.

George Bridge and Will Jordan paid the price for nervy displays out wide in the face of a Springbok aerial bombardment during New Zealand’s tight 19-17 win over the South Africans in Townsville.

Anton Lienert-Brown back from injury

Foster instead recalled Sevu Reece on the right wing and shifted Rieko Ioane to the left, making room in the centres for Anton Lienert-Brown’s return from injury.

The only other major change to the starting XV for the sixth-round match on Australia’s Gold Coast was Brad Weber replacing TJ Perenara at scrum-half.

Fly-half Beauden Barrett retains his spot ahead of star pivot Richie Mo’unga, who rejoined the squad this week following a spell in quarantine after a delayed departure from New Zealand for the birth of a baby.

The starting pack remains unchanged from the original one named last week, with Luke Jacobson returning to the number eight jersey, after his late withdrawal with illness last weekend. Amongst the replacements, Asafo Aumua and George Bower take over from Samisoni Taukei’aho abd Karl Tu’inukuafe as reserve hooker and loosehead prop respectively.

Foster said energy levels were high among the All Blacks, who claimed the Rugby Championship title last week and remain undefeated in this year’s tournament.

“The fact that we now have the chance to achieve a potential Grand Slam against our southern hemisphere opponents is pretty special. It has already given this weekend’s Test an edge,” he said.

He said the New Zealanders, who also regained the world number one ranking during this year’s Rugby Championship, wanted to make amends for some uncharacteristic mistakes last week.

“We didn’t look after the ball as well as we could have and some of our work at the ruck wasn’t as good as we wanted,” he added.

“We have to lift our performance in that area and the team is keen to get that right this weekend.”