LONDON (AP) — Midfielder Jordie Barrett has returned from a knee injury in the New Zealand lineup to play England at Twickenham this weekend.
Barrett was hurt in a tackle against Australia on Sept. 21 and missed their last two tests, the Rugby Championship-closing win against the Wallabies a week later and the autumn tour opener against Japan in Yokohama last weekend, when the All Blacks gave reserve players a run and debuted two.
The All Blacks have returned to their tried and trusted lineup for Saturday’s test, including captain Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan.
Only three starters remain from the side which whipped Japan 64-19.
Jordie Barrett will slot in outside older brother Beauden, who last month was restored to flyhalf for the first time in almost two years. Damian McKenzie was back in the reserves.
Cortez Ratima was at scrumhalf while Cam Roigard was his backup for his biggest match since the Rugby World Cup, following a seven-month layoff from a knee injury this year.
“While we have met England twice this year already, four months is a long time in rugby and we know that both teams are different to the ones that met in New Zealand in July,” coach Scott Robertson said on Thursday.
New Zealand won both home tests, 16-15 in Dunedin and 24-17 in Auckland.
___
New Zealand: Will Jordan, Mark Tele’a, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Cortez Ratima; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Wallace Sititi, Tupou Vaa’i, Scott Barrett (captain), Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samipeni Finau, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source link
