All Blacks team named to face the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria

Taylor returns from injury to captain the All Blacks for the first time in his 110th All Blacks match and first match of the tour. Props Xavier Numia and Tyrel Lomax will also play their first match of the tour.

Six players from the All Blacks team who beat the Sharks 54-0 on Tuesday back up for the Bulls match: lock Josh Lord, loose forward Wallace Sititi, halfbacks Kyle Preston and Cortez Ratima (who are both playing their third game of the tour), midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai, and outside back Emoni Narawa.

A total of 14 players named in the 23 to take on the Vodacom Bulls played in the opening match against the DHL Stormers.

“The Bulls have consistently been South Africa’s best franchise side, making the United Rugby Championship finals in four of the last five years,” said Rennie.

“Loftus Versfeld is one of the most formidable rugby grounds in the world, so we are aware of the challenge in front of us and excited at what lies ahead.

“This is also our final hit out before the first Test match against the Springboks, so it is an important game for us. There is healthy competition for Test spots so this is another opportunity for players to put their hands up for selection.

“Huge congratulations to Codie on his first All Blacks captaincy. He is a top man and has done a great job leading this tour group. This is a proud moment for an All Blacks centurion who has made a massive contribution to this team as a player and a leader.”

**Match facts:**

• The All Blacks have played at Loftus Versfeld (and the former Eastern Sports Ground) 16 times since 1928, playing six Tests against the Springboks and four games against the forerunner to the Bulls, Northern Transvaal, in 1949, 1960, 1970 and 1976. The All Blacks won the first three games and lost the 1976 match 29-27.

• Other opponents the All Blacks have played at Loftus Versfeld include the Junior Springboks, South African Universities, Northern Universities, South African Combined Services, Pretoria and Pretoria Clubs. The All Blacks also played Scotland there at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

• The match venue is 1350 metres above sea level, and the rarefied air allows kicks to travel much further than at sea level. Twenty years ago Dan Carter kicked what is possibly the longest ever penalty kick by an All Black, nailing a 62 metre-penalty goal in the All Blacks’ 45-26 victory.

**All Blacks team (Test caps and non-Test games in brackets):**
1 Xavier Numia (2, 0)
2 Codie Taylor (captain, 109, 0)
3 Tyrel Lomax (51, 0)
4 Fabian Holland (12, 1)
5 Patrick Tuipulotu (57, 3)
6 Simon Parker (8, 1)
7 Anton Segner (2, 1)
8 Peter Lakai (10, 1)

9 Cortez Ratima (24, 2)
10 Josh Jacomb (0, 1)
11 Josh Moorby (2, 1)
12 Anton Lienert-Brown (90, 2)
13 Rieko Ioane (88, 1)
14 Leroy Carter (7, 1)
15 Beauden Barrett (144, 2)

**Replacements:**
16 Samisoni Taukei’aho (44, 1)
17 George Bower (26, 1)
18 Siale Lauaki (0, 1)
19 Josh Lord (15, 1)
20 Wallace Sititi (21, 1)
21 Kyle Preston (1, 2)
22 Timoci Tavatavanawai (2, 1)
23 Emoni Narawa (4, 1)

Masters of controlling the pace and tempo of the game, the All Blacks were nonetheless forced to work hard for every inch, and the first half closed out with the visitors on attack, but under so much pressure that the effort finished off with a wild pass into touch.

A side this good does not dwell on the past and they threw everything into their third try, initially held up over the tryline but an offsides penalty was tapped and after a couple of recycles at close quarters, the ball was sent out wide for another touchline try, and another well-struck conversion for a 21-0 lead five minutes into the second half.

Seven minutes later they went over for their fourth try, the bobbling ball in the red zone eluding everyone but the All Blacks fortuitously and then the conversion from out wide once more bang on target for a 28-0 lead with 25 minutes remaining.

Further tries came in the 60th and 62nd minutes with Ma’a Nonu coming on to face the team he won two Rugby World Cups with, and who enjoyed a 42-0 lead with a little less than a final quarter left to play.

With 10 minutes remaining, a well-crafted multi-phase attack culminated in another try in the corner, with the conversion missing the mark for the first time in the game as the All Blacks’ score approached the 50-point mark.

They hit the half century in the 75th minute as they upped the tempo on attack, the conversion taking them into a 54-0 lead.

There was a flash of light in the closing moments as Jurenzo Julius showcased his attacking prowess, but he was cut down barely a handful of metres from the tryline to close out the match.  

**Scorers:**

**Hollywoodbets Sharks 0**

**All Blacks 54 (14)** – Tries: Fehi Fineanganofo (2), Damian McKenzie, Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, Kyle Preston, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Sam Darry. Conversions: Love (6).

Source: Original report at SA Rugby.