Illness rules Wallace Sititi out of All Blacks’ Stormers opener

New Zealand have been forced to make a late change to their starting team for Friday’s opening match of the Greatest Rivalry tour, with Wallace Sititi withdrawn because of a mild illness.

Sititi had been selected to start at number eight against the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium. However, the All Blacks confirmed on Thursday that the loose forward would not be available for the fixture.

Anton Segner will move into the starting line-up at openside flanker, while Peter Lakai switches across from the flank to take Sititi’s place at number eight.

The match in Cape Town begins the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa. New Zealand will also face the Sharks and Bulls before meeting the Springboks in the first Test at Ellis Park on 22 August.

The late adjustment leaves Pat Tuipulotu as captain, with Beauden Barrett retaining his place at fly-half. Josh Moorby starts at full-back, while Leroy Carter and Rieko Ioane are named on the wings.

Billy Proctor and Anton Lienert-Brown continue in the midfield, with Cortez Ratima selected at scrum-half. Simon Parker remains at blindside flanker alongside the reshuffled back row.

Fabian Holland partners captain Tuipulotu in the second row. The front row consists of Pasilio Tosi, Samisoni Taukei’aho and George Bower.

New Zealand’s revised starting side is:

15 Josh Moorby, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 George Bower.

The replacements are Asafo Aumua, Ollie Norris, Siale Lauaki, Sam Darry, Ethan Blackadder, Kyle Preston, Josh Jacomb and Caleb Clarke.

Sititi’s withdrawal comes shortly before the All Blacks begin a tour that builds towards their first Test against South Africa at Ellis Park. Friday’s meeting with the Stormers is therefore the opening opportunity for New Zealand’s squad to establish momentum before the remaining tour matches against the Sharks and Bulls.

The Stormers will host the All Blacks at Cape Town Stadium, where the visitors will have to adapt to the late alteration in their back-row combination. Segner moves into the starting team, Lakai takes on the number-eight role and Ethan Blackadder is included among the replacements.

A separate report also states that Bob Skinstad has signed for KickOff Rugby.