How the teams rate
ALL BLACKS
15. Beauden Barrett: Rejoice, All Blacks fans, Barrett has been unshackled. His ability to inject himself into play from fullback will trouble the Springboks who could control him at No 10. 8
14. Ben Smith: Has the 33-year-old lost a touch a pace? Or was last week’s game just an aberration? Probably a bit of both but we can expect much better from him tomorrow. 7
13. Jack Goodhue: The Crusaders centre hasn’t quite hit the heights of last year but he remains the country’s best. 7.5
12. Sonny Bill Williams: How do you rate someone who hasn’t played that often? The Blues midfielder has it all to prove but outside Richie Mo’unga he might do just that. 6 11. Rieko Ioane: Part of a largely unfit Blues side which needs to sharpen up. Could – and should – be a 9 or a 10 but performances haven’t quite matched his talent. 8
10. Richie Mo’unga: The Rolls Royce finally gets its best driver. 8
9. TJ Perenara: Could force a rethink at No 9 with a strong display. Seems to be close to his peak. 7.
8. Kieran Read: Battle with Duane Vermeulen will be brilliant to watch. This is the real start of Read’s season but he finished his Crusaders duties on the up. 8
7. Matt Todd: Breakdown pest has always performed well in the black jersey and this weekend should be no different. 6.5
6. Shannon Frizell: Can grab the No 6 jersey if he replicates his earlyseason Highlanders form but there are question marks. 6
5. Sam Whitelock: Should have plenty in the tank after delayed start to the year and a week off after the Super Rugby final. 8
4. Brodie Retallick: No longer a clearcut choice for best lock in the world but still the ABs’ best ball carrier in the tight five.8.5
3. Owen Franks: Has he been overtaken by the likes of Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong? Probably, but still nails his core roles better than anyone in New Zealand. 6.5
2. Codie Taylor: How will be measure up against the world’s best hooker? Had lineout issues in Super Rugby that detracted from his all-round game. 7.5
1. Joe Moody: Scrum king and occasional hit man can be guaranteed to give the ABs some bite up front. 7.5
Reserves: Dane Coles 7, Ofa Tuungafasi 6.5, Angus Ta’avao 6, Vaea Fifita 5.5, Dalton Papali’i 6, Aaron Smith 7, Anton LienertBrown 7, George Bridge 6.5.
SPRINGBOKS 15. Willie le Roux: Can blow hot and cold but was very good against the All Blacks last year and offers a second playmaking option. 7.5
14. Cheslin Kolbe: Extremely elusive wing has been starring in France and gives South Africa variation on attack. 7 13. Lukhanyo Am: Beware All Blacks, Am might be relatively new to the test scene but he can play. ABs midfield will have its hands full. 7
12. Damian de Allende: Seems to grow an arm and a leg against the ABs. Will test Mo’unga’s defence with his strong carries. 6.5 11. Makazole Mapimpi: Something of a late bloomer who is deputising for Aphiwe Dyanti. Has pace but lacks experience. 6.
10. Handre Pollard: Thumping right boot with be key to the Springboks’ territory game and has an under-rated running game. 7.5
9. Faf de Klerk: Livewire halfback outpointed Aaron Smith last year and again will be central to the Springboks’ hopes. 8
8. Duane Vermulen: The veteran’s selection signals a huge contest at the breakdown, where he is unmoveable over the ball. 7.5
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit: Has grown into one of the world’s best blindsides with huge engine and surprising array of skills. 7.5
6. Kwagga Smith: A Super Rugby superstar although will have to answer doubts about whether he is big enough for test rugby. 6.5
5. Franco Mostert: Boks’ depth at lock is world-leading. Workaholic lock who will tackle everything that moves. 7
4. Eben Etzebeth: South Africa now have leaders scattered through their squad and Etzebeth is one of them. Fearsome in contact. 8
3. Frans Malherbe: Not the most mobile man but picked to contain Moody at scrum time. Boks’ prop depth seems to be on the loosehead side. 6 2. Malcolm Marx: Yes, he has occasional issues at the lineout but his work around the paddock is superb. A tank. 8 1. Steven Kitshoff. Hugely confrontational character whose head once cracked Mo’unga’s jaw.
7.5 Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi 6, Tendai Mtawarira 6.5, Trevor Nyakane 5.5, RG Snyman 7, Francois Louw 7. Herschel Jantjies 6.5, Francois Steyn 6, Jesse Kriel 7. Totals:
ALL BLACKS 161.5
SOUTH AFRICA 159