All Blacks select experienced starting XV for Sharks clash in Durban

The All Blacks have named a strong starting line-up for Tuesday night’s meeting with the Sharks in Durban, with several players who featured for New Zealand during the Nations Championship included in the team.

Head coach Dave Rennie has brought Damian McKenzie, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Ruben Love and Ethan de Groot into the starting XV for the match.

Seven players who featured against the Stormers are also included in the matchday 23, as New Zealand prepare for the second game of their tour.

Luke Jacobson will captain the All Blacks from the number eight position. Rennie said Jacobson was the clear choice to lead the side against the Sharks.

“Luke is the obvious choice to captain the team against the Sharks. He is highly respected, has a great feel for the game and will lead through his actions,” Rennie said after naming his team.

The coach said New Zealand’s opening match had provided the players with an early understanding of the style of play they would face in South Africa.

“The opening match gave the players a real introduction to the way that South African teams play and the Sharks will be no different. With a short turnaround between games, today has been a big day of preparation. There is a lot of excitement in the group, with the majority of the squad about to play their first game of the tour.

Damian McKenzie starts at full-back, with Fehi Fineanganofo on the right wing and Caleb Clarke on the left. Quinn Tupaea and Jordie Barrett form the midfield pairing, while Ruben Love is selected at fly-half.

Kyle Preston is named at scrum-half, with Jacobson leading the forwards from the back row alongside Wallace Sititi and Tupou Vaa’i.

Sam Darry and Josh Lord make up the second row, while Fletcher Newell, Asafo Aumua and Ethan de Groot are selected in the front row.

The replacements include Bradley Slater, Ollie Norris and Pasilio Tosi as front-row options. Ethan Blackadder and Semisi Ta’eiloa provide further cover among the forwards.

Cam Roigard, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Emoni Narawa are the remaining players on the bench.

The All Blacks starting XV is:

15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Kyle Preston, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Wallace Sititi, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Ethan de Groot.

The replacements are:

16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Ethan Blackadder, 20 Semisi Ta’eiloa, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa.