All Blacks: Codie Taylor returns to captain side against Bulls as Cam Roigard remains absent

Codie Taylor will return from injury to captain the All Blacks against the Bulls on Saturday, while scrum-half Cam Roigard has again been left out of the squad.

Taylor, who has not played for New Zealand on tour so far, will start at hooker. His return is the main change to the forward pack, with the All Blacks naming Patrick Tuipulotu and Fabian Holland in the second row and Peter Lakai, Anton Segner and Simon Parker in the back row.

Beauden Barrett has been selected at full-back, while Leroy Carter and Josh Moorby will start on the wings.

Rieko Ioane will make his first appearance at outside centre on the tour after Billy Proctor suffered an injury that has ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign. Anton Lienert-Brown will wear the number 12 shirt.

Josh Jacomb, the younger fly-half in the starting side, has been named at 10, with Cortez Ratima selected at scrum-half.

However, Roigard remains unavailable for selection. The first-choice scrum-half has yet to feature on tour after being forced to withdraw from the All Blacks squad for their match against the Sharks.

The match against the Bulls will kick off at 19:00 on Saturday.

New Zealand’s starting XV is: Beauden Barrett at full-back; Leroy Carter, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown and Josh Moorby in the back three and midfield; Josh Jacomb at fly-half and Cortez Ratima at scrum-half; Peter Lakai, Anton Segner and Simon Parker in the back row; Patrick Tuipulotu and Fabian Holland in the second row; Tyrel Lomax at tight-head prop, Codie Taylor as captain at hooker and Xavier Numia at loose-head prop.

The replacements are Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Bower, Siale Lauaki, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Kyle Preston, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Emoni Narawa.

The selection means Taylor will lead the All Blacks in his first match of the tour, while the continued absence of Roigard leaves Ratima to start at scrum-half and Kyle Preston among the replacements. Jacomb’s selection at fly-half completes the backline combination alongside Barrett, Carter, Ioane, Lienert-Brown and Moorby.

New Zealand will therefore face the Bulls with Taylor back in the starting line-up, Ioane moved to outside centre following Proctor’s tour-ending injury, and Roigard still waiting for his first appearance on tour.