Revenge-seeking All Blacks start Goodhue against South Africa

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen handed rising star Jack Goodhue a start in the centres for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against South Africa, demoting veteran Ryan Crotty to the bench.

Goodhue, 23, will partner Sonny Bill Williams as New Zealand look to avenge last month’s shock 36-34 loss to the Springboks in Wellington.

Hansen, whose side has already won the southern hemisphere tournament, said he wanted to see how the Goodhue-Williams combination worked, no doubt with one eye on next year’s Rugby World Cup defence in Japan.

“We know a lot about Ryan and Jack but we don’t know a lot about Sonny and Jack,” he said. 

“All year we’ve been trying to work out what’s our best combination in that area for the future and this is an opportunity to do that.”

The inclusion of Goodhue, Crotty’s team-mate at the Crusaders, is one of four changes to the starting XV that beat Argentina 35-17 to seal the title last week.

Captain Kieran Read, halfback Aaron Smith and prop Owen Franks all return after being rested against the Pumas.

Hansen said New Zealand needed to maintain their intensity in front of a sold-out crowd of 52,000 in Pretoria, even though they had already won the tournament.

With South Africa riding high after back-to-back wins over the All Blacks and Australia, Hansen admitted the New Zealanders had a point to prove. 

“Nothing changes for us. It’s a Test match that everyone in New Zealand expects us to win,” he said.

“South Africa are playing with a lot of confidence and after their two recent wins, their confidence levels will be even higher. 

“So we’ll need to respond with real purpose, composure, belief and intensity.”

New Zealand (15-1): Ben Smith; Waisake Naholo, Jack Goodhue, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell; Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock; Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Karl Tu’inukuafe. 

Replacements: Nathan Harris, Tim Perry, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Richie Mo’unga, Ryan Crotty. – Agence France-Presse