All Blacks make late change before Springboks Test at Ellis Park
Anton Segner has been ruled out of the All Blacks’ opening Test against South Africa after developing a swollen ankle.
The All Blacks have made one late change to their 23-man squad for Saturday’s opening Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park. Loose forward Anton Segner has been withdrawn after developing a swollen ankle, with Simon Parker taking his place among the replacements.
Segner’s ankle problem has been diagnosed as acute inflammatory arthritis. The All Blacks have not set a date for his return, leaving his availability for future matches undecided.
The change gives Parker a place on the bench for the first Test. The replacement forward joins Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown and Leroy Carter among the substitutes.
Ardie Savea will captain the All Blacks from the number eight position. He is joined in the loose forwards by Luke Jacobson and Tupou Vaa’i, while Fabian Holland and Josh Lord form the lock pairing.
Damian McKenzie starts at fullback, with Will Jordan and Josh Moorby on the wings. Quinn Tupaea and Jordie Barrett are the centres, while Ruben Love and Cam Roigard make up the halfback pairing.
The front row consists of Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor and Ethan de Groot. The late alteration leaves the rest of the named match-day squad unchanged, with Parker now providing cover from the bench for the Ellis Park Test.
Source: SA Rugby magazine
