All Blacks rest regular starters vs Italy

Thu, Nov 4, 2021, 9:38 PM
Reuters
by Reuters
The Springboks win after the siren in a thriller against the All Blacks at CBUS stadium

Richie Mo'unga will start at No.10 as one of a number of changes to a largely second-string New Zealand side to tackle Italy in their autumn international clash in Rome.

Mo'unga replaces Beauden Barrett as coach Ian Foster rests some of his usual starters, with wing Sevu Reece, scrumhalf Brad Weber, lock Tupou Vaa'i and prop Tyrel Lomax moving into the line-up from the side that thumped Wales 54-16 in Cardiff last weekend.

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"The team that's been selected has been given the job of ensuring we grow in those areas from our game against Wales," Foster said.

Tupou Vaa'i, 21, will form an inexperienced lock pairing with Josh Lord, 20, who made his debut against the United States last month.

Hooker Dane Coles, and props George Bower and Lomax, make up the front row, while flankers Luke Jacobson and captain Sam Cane form a backrow partnership with No.8 Hoskins Sotutu.

Weber and Mo'unga are a new halfback pairing, with Quinn Tupaea and Braydon Ennor in the centre positions, and Reece and George Bridge on the wing. Damian McKenzie will play at fullback.

Italy coach Kieran Crowley has named an experienced team.

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It will be Crowley's first match since being appointed Azzurri coach, having succeeded Franco Smith, who has moved into a new role as the head of high performance in Italy.

Crowley had been due to take his new team back to his native New Zealand but the cancellation of that tour means he will take charge for the first time at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday morning (AEDT).

ALL BLACKS: 15-Damian McKenzie, 14-Sevu Reece, 13-Braydon Ennor, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 11-George Bridge, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 9-Brad Weber, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 7-Sam Cane (captain), 6-Luke Jacobson, 5-Josh Lord, 4-Tupou Vaa'i, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 2-Dane Coles, 1-George Bower.

Replacements: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Ethan de Groot, 18-Ofa Tuungafasi, 19-Sam Whitelock, 20-Shannon Frizell, 21-Finlay Christie, 22-David Havili, 23-Jordie Barrett (Reporting by Nick Said Editing by Christian Radnedge)

ITALY: 15-Matteo Minozzi, 14-Federico Mori, 13-Juan Ignacio Brex, 12-Marco Zanon, 11-Montanna Ioanne, 10-Paolo Garbisi, 9-Stephen Varney, 8-Renato Giammarioli, 7-Michele Lamaro, 6-Sebastian Negri, 5-David Susi, 4-Marco Fuser, 3-Marco Riccioni, 2-Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1-Danilo Fishcetti.

Replacements: 16-Luca Bigi, 17-Ivan Nemer, 18-Pietro Ceccarelli, 19-Niccolo Cannone, 20-Federico Ruzza, 21-Abraham Steyn, 22-Callum Braley, 23-Carlo Cana. (Reporting by Peter Hall Editing by Christian Radnedge)

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