SCRUM-HALF AARON Smith was named in New Zealand’s team to play Wales on Saturday, when he will surpass Dan Carter as the most capped back in All Blacks history.
Smith, who will be playing his 113th Test, will link up with out-half Richie Mo’unga while Beauden Barrett has been named at fullback.
Smith is one of a number of older heads to return to the team after the All Blacks kicked off their Autumn Test Series with a laboured 38-31 victory over Japan in Tokyo.
Jordie Barrett has again been given the nod at centre, linking up with Rieko Ioane in midfield. David Havili and Anton Lienert-Brown will provide cover.
Caleb Clarke and Sevu Reece retain their spots on the wing. The front row of Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Tyrel Lomax is reunited in a tight five that has also welcomed back the fit-again Scott Barrett, the third of the Barrett brothers in the run-on XV.
He is partnered at lock by captain Samuel Whitelock in the absence of Brodie Retallick, who picked up a two-match ban after being red-carded for a shoulder charge in the Japan match.
Completing the forward pack is the loose forward trio of Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali’i and Shannon Frizell.
“Playing Wales on the road always represents an exciting challenge,” coach Ian Foster said.
“We have a number of players returning to the side and we know we will need to play with a high intensity against this physical Welsh team.
“Last year the roof at Principality Stadium was open due to Covid regulations but this time it will be closed. That will ensure an amazing atmosphere for fans and players.”
Foster has also confirmed that winger Will Jordan will not take part on this tour due to a persisting vestibular issue.
New Zealand
15. Beauden Barrett
14. Sevu Reece
13. Rieko Ioane
12. Jordie Barrett
11. Caleb Clarke
10. Richie Mo’unga
9. Aaron Smith
1. Ethan de Groot
2. Codie Taylor
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. Samuel Whitelock (capt)
5. Scott Barrett
6. Shannon Frizzell
7. Dalton Papali’i
8. Ardie Savea
Replacements:
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Tupou Vaa’i
20. Akira Ioane
21. Brad Weber
22. David Havili
23. Anton Lienert-Brown
The peverbial game of 2 halves . Great 2nd half . COYS
@Sean Nihill: French clubs are so flakey. Have they ever beaten an English club in the last 10 years? 1-0 up at half time, Spurs lose Son and yet Marseille bottle it. Apart from PSG, the French League is a bit of a joke when it comes to CL.
@Tommy Bohan: I seem to remember Lyon dumping Man City out of the competition in the QF a couple of years ago.
@Tommy Bohan: Tommy there with your best Paul Merson impression.
Good laugh of a Wednesday morning – thanks
Absolutely gutted Spurs scabbed another jammy enough win, even tho it was a stunning goal from Hojberg. Nonetheless, the night isn’t about them but the mighty Adler from Frankfurt. Had to go to Lisbon and win tonight no matter what the other result was. A team that even I feared for ahead of the season’s start, but boy have they impressed. Not least lacking the player quality other team’s in the group harbour, but also completely financially inferior to the likes of Spurs. Came within seconds of winning the group too. Massive for a club run by fans with over 100,000 members. Huge for the German game too. So proud of Glasner and his men.
@Ultan Corcoran: Nice to read a post from an Irish person with some European knowledge and not one of the typical followers of English teams.
@Tommy Bohan: Resident expert..
@Tommy Bohan: Haha appreciate it Tommy. Nothing much against the English teams themselves, just prefer the game elsewhere. Try to keep a broad understanding of all football affairs if I can!
@Gary Donlan: That’s a very bland, general comment. Could you please expand on it?
@Tommy Bohan: i will. To regular readers on here, Ultan is said resident expert on German football. Gives a very informed and impassioned view on Der Bundesliga which is widely appreciated by many.
@Tommy Bohan: Ultan is well versed in all things German football, Tommy, I think is the gist of what Gary was getting at. Not sure about the claim to a broad understanding of football in general though, as that would lead to a knowledge that Spurs were utterly robbed last week by another absolute varce, fully deserved to go through and there was nothing scabby about it. He seems like a sound oul head though all the same, with an intricate knowledge of German football, especially Dortmund, where it wouldn’t surprise me if he knew the names of each of the squad’s respective pet hamsters.
@Gary Donlan: Apologies for that, didn’t get what you meant first time. As I said it’s nice to hear a different viewpoint.
@Stiofán Ó’Murchú: Hahahaha love that last bit. Ahhh I’ll be the first to admit I’ve a bit of a chip on my shoulder about Spurs. Since that UCL knockout tie a few years back and a couple hundred fans chanting ‘no German bombers’ in the square. That along with the big multi-million stadium stuff rubbed me up the wrong way. As for the scabby stuff it was unnecessary.. I just heard they’d been a bit lucky in recent weeks through mates who follow the prem. Probably isn’t the case. Best of luck to them and I enjoy watching their Bundesliga players like Son and Hojberg… who knows, could be another BVB – Spurs R16 post Christmas ;)
@Ultan Corcoran: arsenal fan ?
@Jim Casey: I like Arsenal but nope, nobody in England but if it push came to shove right now it be Leeds! It was obviously just a few hooligans involved anyway… I’m sure the greater spurs consensus are a good lot. I know a good 6-7 fans of them here and all a sound bunch.
Well that was exciting!!! COYS
sure where is the fun in doing it the easy way. Delighted…coys
But my god we really need to get this out-ball sorted, no connection between attack and defence. 2nd half was way better but only reason Spurs found themselves getting forward so much more is because of Marseille’s desperation at the other end. Anyway, we keep movin’ and prayin’ on the injury front
Lads, it’s spurs
@Aidy McBride: Grow up.
@Aidy McBride: Save it for Thursday night.
@Aidy McBride: c’mon Aidy this dark side to you isn’t going to well. Always thought you better than this.
@Aidy McBride: I’m worried about you
@Denis Ryan: all together now.
Oh what a night, watching football on a Tuesday night,
You play Thursday cos you’re……….
What a feeling, what a night