By John Day
The All Blacks have brought back lock Sam Whitelock and flanker Jerome Kaino while dropping Ardie Savea to the reserves for Sunday’s Test against the Springboks in Durban.
Matt Todd will start in the number seven jersey while Waisake Naholo replaces Julian Savea on the left wing as coach Steve Hansen makes four changes to the team that started against the Pumas last week.
"Ardie's had a really busy campaign since Sammy's (Sam Cane) been injured, and we just feel that as a young player we're asking a lot of him, and that we would benefit from giving him a bit of a breather."
Anton Lienert-Brown's tremendous outing in Buenos Aires has seen him retained at centre alongside midfield partner Ryan Crotty, while George Moala returns from injury on the bench and there's no room for Malakai Fekitoa for a second straight week.
Anton Lienert-Brown (Getty Images)
"LB (Lienert-Brown) played that well that he just deserved another start, and Crotts has just been in sublime form, so he's pretty much cemented himself there (at second-five)," Hansen said.
The absence of Aaron Smith means TJ Perenara gets another crack at halfback as his Hurricanes teammate Beauden Barrett gets the chance to continue his red-hot form in the ten jersey.
Utility back Damien McKenzie drops out of the 23 after making his Test debut in the second-half against the Pumas.
Last week's starting flankers Liam Squire and Ardie Savea are both in the reserves where there's no specialist lock cover.
Patrick Tuipulotu, who made a strong impression against Argentina, is unlucky to miss out this week with the formidable combination of Whitelock and Brodie Retallick reuniting.
With a barrage of kicks expected from South Africa, it makes sense for the All Blacks to retain Israel Dagg on the wing and give Naholo his chance in the number eleven jersey having been out of action since hurting his hamstring against the Wallabies in Sydney six weeks ago.
Waisake Naholo (Getty Images)
Charlie Faumuina's recovered from an ankle injury to take the place of fellow Auckland prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi in the reserves.
All Blacks team to face South Africa in Durban on Sunday at 4am:
1. Joe Moody, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Jerome Kaino, 7. Matt Todd, 8. Kieran Read (C), 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Waisake Naholo, 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Israel Dagg, 15. Ben Smith.
Reserves: 16. Codie Taylor, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Charlie Faumuina, 19. Liam Squire, 20. Ardie Savea, 21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22. Lima Sopoaga, 23. George Moala.
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