McKenzie the new Carter?

Springboks:

Andries Coetzee, Dillyn Leyds, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Francois Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff. Chiliboy Ralepelle, Trevor Nyakane, Wilco Louw, Franco Mostert, Jean-Luc du Preez, Rudy Paige, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende.

Bench: All Blacks:

Damian McKenzie, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Liam Squire; Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Kane Hames. Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Matt Todd, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, David Havili.

Bench:

The All Blacks’ next Dan Carter is on his way – but no, it’s not Beauden Barrett but rather the gifted fullback Damian McKenzie.

Coach Steve Hansen said in Cape Town this week ahead of their Test against the Springboks this afternoon that McKenzie’s future is probably not at 15.

“I don't see that as his number one position long-term. Nope, just a little bit like Beauden, I think he’s better suited with the ball in his hand more often at 10,” said Hansen.

“We could be proven wrong, I’ve been wrong before.”

Hansen said it’s a bit like former All Black stars at 10 like Andrew Mehrtens and Dan Carter.

“Mehrts had always been a fiveeighth but Carter wasn’t, he was a second-five,” said Hansen.

“But we just felt that when we moved him to 10, he’d have more opportunities to control the game,” he said.

Hansen said McKenzie was growing at fullback even though, deep down, they don't really think that’s his position.

"He’s going to play a lot of first five-eighth, I’d suggest, for the Chiefs with (Aaron) Cruden gone, so there’s a guy that could play both positions,” Hansen said.

The All Blacks will be without lock Brodie Retallick today, but Hansen said while all the talk has been about a “young” Bok side, the All Blacks aren’t that experienced either.

“If you take out Sammy (Whitelock) and (Kieran) Read and Barrett and then Crocky (Wyatt Crockett) off the bench, there’s no one else in this week’s team with over 50 Test matches,” Hansen said.

Hansen said they had 711 caps in the 23, which is not a great number.

“What we’re trying to do is build people’s ability to play Test rugby and to get an understanding of what that’s about,” he said.

“And you can’t do that if you keep chopping and changing the team.”