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Jordie Barrett at 15 for All Blacks
Friday, 08 June 2018 - 11:15 | Views - 1,059

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has named his side to face France in Saturday’s first Test at Eden Park, with Jordie Barrett at full-back.

The Barretts will create history as the first trio of brothers to make an All Blacks Test XV, with Beauden and Scott also included in the line-up.

Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett are the half-backs, with Ryan Crotty at 12 and Anton Lienert-Brown at 13. In the back three, Rieko Ioane is on the left wing, Ben Smith on the right and Jordie Barrett at 15. TJ Perenara, Damian McKenzie and Ngani Laumape are cover off the bench.

The All Blacks front-row is also bolstered by the return of Owen Franks and Joe Moody to the Test line-up, with Codie Taylor starting at hooker. Karl Tu’inukuafe is set to make his debut off the bench with Ofa Tuungafasi and Nathan Harris the other front-row replacements.

Samuel Whitelock will captain the Test side for the second time in his 97th Test, and is in the second-row alongside Scott Barrett. Liam Squire is at blindside flanker, with Sam Cane at openside and Luke Whitelock at number eight. Vaea Fifita and Ardie Savea make the bench.

We are really looking forward to the weekend and had a great week of training. Whilst rugby is a complicated game, we’ve worked hard at simplifying those complexities this week so that we can go out and play with real confidence, high energy and genuine intent on the weekend,” said Hansen.

The players have worked hard on getting clarity of role and are up for the challenge that this French side brings. Statistics show that they’re the best defensive team in world rugby at the moment, and history has shown us what can happen when they flick the switch on attack.

Hansen also congratulated Tu’inukuafe on his selection in the matchday 23.

It has been a spectacular rise for Karl, but his selection is well deserved and we look forward to watching him play his part on Saturday night. He and his family can be very proud about what he is about to achieve,” he said.

It’s also a special night for the Barrett family with Beaudy, Scott and Jordie all starting the Test match, the first trio of All Black brothers to do so, so we congratulate them on their historic milestone.”

He added: “The team are really looking forward to getting out in the Test arena and playing at a packed-out Eden Park in front of our loyal and supportive home fans.”

New Zealand: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Samuel Whitelock (c), 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Ngani Laumape

 

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