All Blacks without Codie Taylor in key test against the Springboks: Rennie reshuffles pack for FNB Stadium
New Zealand enter the third test against South Africa with one of the most conspicuous selection decisions of the entire series: experienced hooker Codie Taylor, a 111-cap All Black, has not been included even among the 23 players for the 5 September match at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. According to the official New Zealand Rugby announcement, Asafo Aumua takes over the starting position, while Samisoni Taukei’aho will cover hooker from the bench. Taylor's absence comes after New Zealand's 33:26 defeat in the second test in Cape Town, in which the Springboks levelled the series at 1:1. Although the initial description presented the match as the game that would decide the series winner, the official schedule confirms that four tests will be played and that the final clash is scheduled for 12 September in Baltimore. The third test nevertheless has an almost elimination-style character: as New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie stressed, the team that loses in Johannesburg can no longer win the series and, at best, can only secure an overall draw.
Taylor out of the matchday squad, Aumua gets his biggest opportunity of the series
Taylor's complete absence from the team attracts the most attention because he is one of the most experienced active New Zealand internationals and a long-standing key member of the front row. He started the first two tests against South Africa and increased his international tally to 111 appearances. However, in Cape Town New Zealand had difficulties at the lineout, several of Taylor's throws ended up in opposition hands, and Aumua replaced him shortly after the break. News agency reports and specialist media highlighted precisely that phase of the match as one of the reasons why the change at hooker became the main topic ahead of the third encounter.
Rennie, however, presented the decision as broader than a simple reaction to one poorer match. At the press conference he explained that winning the series would require the use of a wider group of players and that the objective was to distribute the workload among three quality hookers. In his words, Taylor remains highly valued within the team, Aumua made a strong impact from the bench, and Taukei’aho played well in earlier matches on the tour. In doing so, the coaching staff attempted to reduce the impression that this represented a permanent fall for Taylor in the pecking order, although the fact that the 35-year-old veteran is not even among the reserves remains one of the most important messages conveyed by the selection. Aumua, who according to the official list enters the match with 24 international appearances, gets the opportunity to start in a game that could shape the conclusion of the entire tour.
Three changes to the starting team, but the backline remains untouched
The change at hooker is not the only intervention. Rennie made a total of three changes to the starting lineup compared with the defeat in Cape Town, all in the forward pack. Sam Darry comes into the second row in place of Fabian Holland, who moves to the bench, while Patrick Tuipulotu drops out of the matchday squad. Darry will therefore play his first test in this four-match series, and alongside him in the second row will be Tupou Vaa’i, whose appearance at FNB Stadium will be his 50th in an All Blacks jersey. In the back row Peter Lakai gets the nod ahead of Simon Parker, while Wallace Sititi is included among the reserves for the first time in this test series.
According to Rennie's explanation, the changes among the forwards are also linked to the need for freshness, particularly in the altitude conditions of Johannesburg. At the same time, the coach decided not to alter the backline, believing that continuity could help attacking precision. Cam Roigard therefore remains at scrum-half and Ruben Love at fly-half, while Leroy Carter, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Will Jordan and Damian McKenzie will again play in the outside backs. Ardie Savea remains captain and will wear number eight. The bench is split five forwards and three backs, giving New Zealand the option of refreshing the pack during the second half without completely sacrificing options in the backline.
Injuries and caution influenced selection in the forwards
Some of the selection decisions are not related solely to form. According to Rennie's explanation reported by RugbyPass, Josh Lord returned to training after concussion-related protocols, but the coaching staff did not want to return him immediately to a test match, particularly because of his previous history of such problems. Ethan de Groot was also not considered after completing medical protocols, with the coach also mentioning a knee issue and judging that an additional week of recovery could benefit him. That approach opened the door for Darry, who Rennie believes, with his work-rate and athletic capacity, suits the tempo the All Blacks want to impose at altitude.
Peter Lakai also gets a bigger role after appearances from the bench in the previous tests. His energy in contact and ability to speed up work around the ruck could be important against a South African pack that managed to impose greater physical pressure in Cape Town. Sititi on the bench offers a similar player profile for the closing stages of the match, indicating New Zealand's desire to maintain mobility and speed even after the first wave of substitutions. Alongside Fabian Holland, the reserve forwards are Taukei’aho, Xavier Numia and Fletcher Newell, while Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown and Josh Moorby will cover the backline positions.
Defeat in Cape Town brought the Springboks back into the series
The third test has gained additional significance because of the results of the previous two encounters. The All Blacks beat South Africa 33:16 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 22 August and took the lead in the series. According to New Zealand Rugby's official report, New Zealand scored five tries to South Africa's one on that occasion and made particularly good use of their opportunities despite strong pressure from the hosts in the scrums and territorial game. It was a result that gave the All Blacks an early lead on tour and confirmed that they could withstand the Springboks' physical pressure away from home.
A week later, the picture changed. South Africa won 33:26 at DHL Stadium in Cape Town and levelled the overall score at 1:1. The Springboks were more efficient in the key phases, while New Zealand's lineout performance and stability in contact came under greater pressure than in the first test. Taylor's early withdrawal in the second half and Aumua's introduction became one of the most conspicuous details of that match, but New Zealand's problem was not limited to a single player. The result confirmed how quickly the balance in this series can shift and why the third test carries such major psychological and competitive significance.
The third test is not the last, but defeat effectively closes the path to the trophy
The official Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour schedule provides for four tests between South Africa and New Zealand. After the matches at Ellis Park and in Cape Town, the third test will be played on 5 September at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, while the fourth and final test is scheduled for 12 September at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore in the United States. The organisers have announced that the series winner after the final test will receive both halves of a specially designed trophy, while in the event of an overall draw each national team will retain one half. That format means Saturday's match cannot by itself bring the series to an end, but its result will substantially determine who arrives in Baltimore with a realistic chance of overall victory.
That is precisely why Rennie stressed in the official preview that the team that loses the third encounter can no longer win the series. If one national team goes 2:1 ahead, the losing side can at most force a final 2:2 result in the fourth test. The winner in Johannesburg, on the other hand, will guarantee at least a draw in the entire series and will arrive in Baltimore with the opportunity to confirm overall triumph. FNB Stadium therefore becomes a kind of point of no return, even though the formal decision on the trophy remains open until the final weekend. For both teams, this is a different type of pressure from a classic final: defeat does not end the tour, but it can end the ambition of winning the series.
Springboks opt for continuity and again rely on a powerful front row
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus opted for a significantly greater degree of continuity ahead of the third test than his New Zealand counterpart. According to SA Rugby's announcement, he made four changes and one positional switch to the starting lineup while retaining most of the combinations that delivered victory in Cape Town. One of the more important adjustments concerns the front row, where Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw return to the starting team. That trio has the potential to once again put major pressure on the New Zealand scrum, a phase of play that has already been one of the central tactical themes of this series.
At the same time, the Springboks will try to maintain the defensive discipline and physical intensity from the second test. Wing Kurt-Lee Arendse said ahead of the match that South Africa wanted to improve its defence further and build on the performance in Cape Town. Assistant coach Daan Human also stressed the importance of producing a quality performance in front of the home crowd in the final South African test of this series before the move to the United States. For the hosts, it will therefore be important to combine the emotional energy of a major stadium with control of the tempo, particularly in the opening twenty minutes when the All Blacks often try to accelerate the game after securing possession.
Vaa’i reaches 50 appearances, with several milestones in the New Zealand team
The third test will also be special because of several individual milestones. New Zealand Rugby confirmed that Tupou Vaa’i will make his 50th appearance for the All Blacks. In the official preview, Rennie described him as an important figure within the group and emphasised that the milestone would provide additional motivation for the team. Alongside Vaa’i, Damian McKenzie will, according to the team's official figures, reach his 80th test, Will Jordan his 60th, Fletcher Newell his 40th, and Luke Jacobson his 30th international appearance.
The match at FNB Stadium also has a broader historical context. According to New Zealand Rugby's records, the All Blacks have previously played twice at that stadium, winning 29:22 in 2010 and 32:16 in 2012. They now return to the same venue in a different tour format, after already playing one of this year's tests in Johannesburg at Ellis Park. The series is part of a renewed concept of major international tours between two of rugby's traditionally most successful nations, while the current cycle also includes New Zealand matches against South African franchises.
All Blacks team for the third test
According to the official New Zealand Rugby announcement, New Zealand will start at FNB Stadium with the following lineup:
- 1. George Bower
- 2. Asafo Aumua
- 3. Tyrel Lomax
- 4. Tupou Vaa’i
- 5. Sam Darry
- 6. Peter Lakai
- 7. Luke Jacobson
- 8. Ardie Savea, captain
- 9. Cam Roigard
- 10. Ruben Love
- 11. Leroy Carter
- 12. Jordie Barrett
- 13. Quinn Tupaea
- 14. Will Jordan
- 15. Damian McKenzie
On the bench are Samisoni Taukei’aho, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Fabian Holland, Wallace Sititi, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown and Josh Moorby. The selection clearly shows Rennie's intention to refresh the most heavily burdened part of the team, but without completely changing the basic plan. The most important test of that decision will be the set pieces: Aumua must ensure reliable lineout throwing, Darry and Vaa’i stability in the second row, and the entire pack must provide an answer to South African pressure in the scrums and contact. If the All Blacks can secure enough quality possession, the unchanged backline should get space for the faster game that the coaching staff wanted to preserve.
FNB Stadium as the biggest stage of the series so far
The third test will be played on 5 September at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, in the wider Soweto area. New Zealand Rugby lists the kick-off time as 17:10 local time. The match will also be preceded by a historic women's international between South Africa and New Zealand, the first test between the Springbok Women and Black Ferns on South African soil. This creates a major double-header at a stadium that is one of the most recognisable sporting venues in Africa.
World Rugby appointed Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli for the third men's test following changes to the previously announced officiating schedule. Angus Gardner will be one of the assistant referees, while Eric Gauzins will serve as television match official. Such details take on added importance in a series in which the scrum, discipline and interpretation of contact have already been the subject of intense discussion. For both teams, this means adapting to the officiating criteria may be just as important as the tactical ideas in open play.
Taylor's absence is therefore much more than a single change on the team sheet. It simultaneously demonstrates how willing the All Blacks are to rotate even their most experienced players, how seriously they take the physical demands of a long tour and how intense the competition for every place in the team has become ahead of the final two matches. Aumua gets the opportunity to prove that he can transfer his impact from the bench into a starting role, while Taylor remains out of action for the first time in this test series. After New Zealand's victory at Ellis Park and the Springboks' response in Cape Town, FNB Stadium will show who can take control of the series before the final act in Baltimore.
Sources:
- New Zealand Rugby / All Blacks – official team announcement for the third test, Dave Rennie's statement, milestones and match information (link)
- RugbyPass – detailed explanation of Rennie's selection decisions, the status of Taylor, Lord and de Groot, and the tactical context of the changes (link)
- New Zealand Rugby / Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry – official schedule of the four-match series, the final test in Baltimore and the trophy format (link)
- New Zealand Rugby / All Blacks – report from the first test and the 33:16 victory at Ellis Park (link)
- New Zealand Rugby / All Blacks – official result of the second test in Cape Town, South Africa's 33:26 victory (link)
- SA Rugby – official Springboks team announcement for the third test and continuity in Rassie Erasmus's selection (link)
- SA Rugby – Kurt-Lee Arendse's statement on defence and continued preparations for the third test (link)
- World Rugby – confirmation of the officiating team for the third test in Johannesburg (link)