Veterans to play final game for All Blacks against Wales
TOKYO: Captain Kieran Read will lead the All Blacks in his final Test alongside other departing veterans Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty and Sonny Bill Williams in the Rugby World Cup third-place match against Wales in Tokyo tomorrow.
Read, who turned 34 on Saturday, will effectively finish his 127-Test career with the All Blacks at Tokyo Stadium after deciding to join Japanese club Toyota at the conclusion of the World Cup.
Coach Steve Hansen said Read had been the ideal figure to carry the All Blacks forward following the retirement of inspirational captain Richie McCaw in 2015.
“He’s a special player and we identified that he would lead after Richie,” Hansen told reporters. “He ... has played a lot of rugby in a position that’s tough. He’s charismatic. The boys love him. The management all love him.
“He was really driven to come to this World Cup and do well.”
Smith, who is also leaving New Zealand to join Pau in France, has been named on the right wing for his 84th Test as Hansen makes eight changes from the starting side that were beaten 19-7 by England in the semi-final.
Crotty has been teamed with Williams in the midfield for one final time. The pair had been expected to be the starting combination in Japan but were instead usurped by youngsters Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue.
Crotty, 31, is also heading to club rugby in Japan, while Williams is expected to leave New Zealand rugby although he has not confirmed his plans.
Beauden Barrett will again play fullback with Richie Mo’unga at flyhalf as Hansen gives the dual playmaker tactic one final outing before the coach walks away after 16 years with the team, the last eight in charge.
With Smith’s selection on the right wing, Hansen reinstated Rieko Ioane to the No.11 jersey, handing the 22-yearold the opportunity to give the next All Blacks coach a reminder of his explosive power.
Meanwhile, Wales coach Warren Gatland has made nine changes to the team to play New Zealand.
In what will be his final match in charge after 12 years as head coach of the Welsh, Gatland brings in props Nicky Smith and Dillon Lewis to the front row either side of Ken Owens.
Adam Beard partners captain Alun Wyn Jones in the second-row, while James Davies comes into the backrow alongside Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty.
Tomos Williams and Rhys Patchell form a new half-back partnership for Wales whilst Owen Watkin features alongside Jonathan Davies in midfield.
Josh Adams, who currently leads the try scoring charts at the World Cup with six, remains in the back three alongside Owen Lane who comes in on the wing and Hallam Amos at full-back.
Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre and Wyn Jones provide the front-row cover on the bench.
TEAMS
New Zealand (15-1): Beauden Barrett; Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell; Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick; Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody
Replacements: Liam Coltman, Atu Moli, Angus Ta’avao, Patrick Tuipulotu, Matt Todd, Brad Weber, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett
Wales (15-1): Hallam Amos; Owen Lane, Jonathan Davies, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams; Rhys Patchell, Tomos Williams; Ross Moriarty, James Davies, Justin Tipuric; Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Adam Beard; Dillon Lewis, Ken Owens, Nicky Smith
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Wyn Jones, Jake Ball, Aaron Shingler, Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar, Hadleigh Parkes