All Blacks legend Ardie Savea will hit the Test centurion milestone on Saturday after being named to start in Saturday's mouthwatering Eden Park clash between New Zealand and South Africa, (8:05am Irish time).
Head coach Scott Robertson has made two changes from the side that lost to Felipe Contepomi's Argentina a fortnight ago, but that does include a reshuffle in the back row where vice-captain Savea is partnered by the returning Wallace Sititi and Simon Parker.
Sititi replaces Fabian Holland, who drops to the bench, with Tupou Vaa’i reverting to lock, and Parker switching to the flank to accommodate Sititi.
Out wide, the back line sees just one change with Emoni Narawa taking the number 14 shirt in place of Sevu Reece, with Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane both starting.
Tyrel Lomax, Du’Plessis Kirifi and the uncapped scrum-half Kyle Preston also make their way into the matchday squad.
South African head coach Rassie Erasmus has handed the captaincy to Jesse Kriel and made four changes of his own, from the side that defeated Australia last time out.
Veteran Willie le Roux starts at full-back in the only change out wide. Leinster’s RG Snyman drops out of the matchday 23 with Eben Etzebeth returning to start, while fit again Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit strengthen the pack.
Erasmus has elected for a 5:3 bench split with Sharks’ speedster Ethan Hooker involved, and just one replacement lock named.
New Zealand: Will Jordan; Emoni Narawa, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane; Beauden Barrett, Finlay Christie; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell; Scott Barrett (captain), Tupou Vaa’i; Simon Parker, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi.
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Fabian Holland, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Kyle Preston, Quinn Tupaea, Damian McKenzie.
South Africa: Willie le Roux; Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel (captain), Damian de Allende, Canan Moodie; Handre Pollard, Grant Williams; Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit; Eben Etzebeth, Ruan Nortje; Marco van Staden, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi.
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Boan Venter, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker.
Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt has handed timely recalls to captain Harry Wilson and out-half Tom Lynagh ahead of their home opener with Argentina (5:30am, Irish time).
Wilson’s return means Rob Valentini shifts to six, while Tom Hooper covers the second row following Will Skelton’s return to France.
Lynagh’s return comes in place of James O’Connor who drops to the bench, while Andrew Kellaway replaces the injured Tom Wright in that number 15 shirt.
Also, in the shakeup to the bench, the abrasive Carlo Tizzano comes in for Nick Champion de Crespigny, while Ulster’s Angus Bell is among the replacements.
Los Pumas boss Felipe Contepomi has handed the keys to Santiago Carreras at 10 with Tomas Albornoz ruled out with a hand injury.
The move means that Zebre’s Geronimo Prisciantelli is in line for his debut from the bench.
There are further changes in the props, with Mayco Vivas and Joel Sclavi replacing the retired Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and Pedro Delgado, who was recalled to his club Harlequins.
Marcus Kramer is back to start in the pack with Pablo Matera moving the number 8, and Joaquin Oviedo dropping to the reserves.
Australia: Andrew Kellaway; Max Jorgensen, Joseph Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Corey Toole; Tom Lynagh, Nic White; Tom Robertson, Billy Pollard, Taniela Tupou; Nick Frost, Tom Hooper; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, James O'Connor, Filipo Daugunu.
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Bautista Delguy, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras; Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Garcia; Mayco Vivas, Julian Montoya (capt), Joel Sclavi; Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo; Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Pablo Matera.
Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Boris Wenger, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Guido Petti, Joaquin Oviedo, Agustin Moyano, Geronimo Prisciantelli, Benjamin Elizalde.
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