Savea to captain All Blacks in first Test against Boks, as Roigard, Jordan passed fit

Ardie Savea will captain the All Blacks in the first Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

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Even though the No 8 arrived late in the country for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, coach Dave Rennie had no problem inserting Savea into the starting team. Saturday’s Test will be his 110th match for his country.

Savea will be joined in the loose trio by Tupou Vaa’i and Luke Jacobson.

Damian McKenzie has also recovered from a niggle to take the fullback position, while wing Will Jordan and scrumhalf Cam Roigard, who haven’t featured at all on tour because of injuries, have been passed fit and will start at Ellis Park.

Cam Roigard of New Zealand is fit to play on Saturday in the first Test against the Springboks. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

There is no place in the matchday-23 for veteran back Beauden Barrett. Ruben Love will play flyhalf.

The Springboks name their team later Thursday.

All Blacks team: Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea (capt), Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa’i, Fabian Holland, Josh Lord, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Bench: Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Leroy Carter

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