A swollen ankle changes the All Blacks bench
Anton Segner will not play at Ellis Park. New Zealand confirmed the flanker’s withdrawal this morning, a few hours before kick-off in the opening Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against South Africa, and named Simon Parker in his place among the replacements.
The problem is an ankle that swelled up on the 25-year-old. Team doctors assessed it as acute inflammatory arthritis. New Zealand have not put a date on his return, which usually means they do not have one.
Segner waited a long time for a stage like this. Born in Germany, he came off the bench against Italy in the Nations Championship for his first cap and won a second against Ireland a week later. Two appearances, both from the bench, both in Europe. Johannesburg on a Test afternoon is a different order of rugby entirely.
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Parker steps up for cap number nine
Parker arrives with recent minutes in his legs. He played in the tour matches against the Stormers and the Bulls, and Saturday puts him in line for a ninth Test appearance. He joins Peter Lakai, Fletcher Newell, George Bower and Asafo Aumua as the forward cover, with Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown and Leroy Carter held back for the backline.
Dave Rennie left everything else alone. Damian McKenzie keeps the number 15 jersey, Will Jordan and Josh Moorby take the wings, and Jordie Barrett pairs with Quinn Tupaea in midfield. Ruben Love starts at fly-half with Cam Roigard inside him.
The pack Rennie trusts in Johannesburg
Ardie Savea captains from number eight in a back row completed by Luke Jacobson and Tupou Vaa’i. Fabian Holland and Josh Lord lock the scrum. Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Tyrel Lomax form the front row that will meet the most scrutinised set-piece in the sport. Matthew Carley referees, with kick-off at 17:10 local time.
Altitude at Ellis Park does what altitude always does, which is turn the last twenty minutes into the part that decides things. Rennie goes into those twenty minutes with a bench he was not planning on two days ago.
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