Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Record try-scorer Will Jordan and first-choice scrumhalf Cam Roigard have been included in New Zealand’s team for the first Test against South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg after recovering from injury.
Coach Dave Rennie on Thursday named the pair in the starting line-up despite the fact injury has kept them out of the first three tour games against provincial opposition.
Ardie Savea captains the side after being given time to rest following last month’s Nations Championship in which the All Blacks beat France, Italy and Ireland in a successful start to Rennie’s reign.
Dutch-born lock Fabian Holland comes into the side for Patrick Tuipulotu as the only change to the starting XV from the last-start win over Ireland.
McKenzie will take his place at fullback with Ruben Love to start at flyhalf.
There is no place in the match-day 23 for decorated veteran Beauden Barrett as Rennie opts for a 5-3 split between forwards and backs among the replacements.
Saturday’s Test is the first of four on successive Saturdays as part of “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” series and is followed by clashes in Cape Town, Johannesburg again and Baltimore in the US.
New Zealand: 15-Damian McKenzie, 14-Will Jordan, 13-Quinn Tupaea, 12-Jordie Barrett, 11-Josh Moorby, 10-Ruben Love, 9-Cam Roigard, 8-Ardie Savea (captain), 7-Luke Jacobson, 6-Tupou Vaa’i, 5-Fabian Holland, 4-Josh Lord, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 2-Codie Taylor, 1-Ethan de Groot. Replacements: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-George Bower, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Anton Segner, 20-Peter Lakai, 21-Kyle Preston, 22-Anton Lienert-Brown, 23-Leroy Carter.
