The All Blacks have reshuffled their forward pack for the second Test against the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday after a bruising 33-16 victory in Johannesburg last weekend. Concussion injuries suffered in that opening match have ruled two forwards out of the starting XV, prompting coach Dave Rennie to call on experienced replacements.
Front‑row and lock altered after head knocks
Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord were forced off following a collision while attempting to stop a charge from Springboks number eight Jasper Wiese. Both players sustained concussions and will not feature in the Cape Town encounter.
De Groot’s absence opens the door for right‑sized front‑row cover, with George Bower stepping into the loosehead position after featuring as a replacement last weekend. In the engine room, coach Rennie has shifted Tupou Vaa'i from the back row to lock, and promoted Simon Parker into the back row, rewarding him for his substitute appearance at Ellis Park.
"While we were happy with the win last week, I think both teams will be better this weekend," Rennie said. "We have played four Tests this year and are still growing as a group... I'm really excited about the competition for places and the performances of the squad across the matches here in South Africa, and we are really looking forward to this weekend."
Wider bench and back‑three tweaks
The All Blacks also made a back‑three adjustment. Try‑scorer from the first Test Josh Moorby drops to the bench and is replaced on the wing by Leroy Carter, another player who saw game time in Johannesburg and now earns a starting promotion. Added depth on the replacements bench includes prop Xavier Numia and lock Patrick Tuipulotu, the latter having captained the All Blacks in matches against franchise sides earlier in the year.
The starting XV named for Cape Town reads:
- 15 Damian McKenzie
- 14 Will Jordan
- 13 Quinn Tupaea
- 12 Jordie Barrett
- 11 Leroy Carter
- 10 Ruben Love
- 9 Cam Roigard
- 8 Ardie Savea (capt)
- 7 Luke Jacobson
- 6 Simon Parker
- 5 Tupou Vaa'i
- 4 Fabian Holland
- 3 Tyrel Lomax
- 2 Codie Taylor
- 1 George Bower
| Player out | Reason | Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Ethan de Groot | Concussion | George Bower |
| Josh Lord | Concussion | Tupou Vaa'i (moved to lock) |
| Josh Moorby | Moved to bench | Leroy Carter (promoted) |
Series context and selection signals
Rennie underlined the competitive environment within the squad, pointing to four Tests already played this year and a growing pool of players pushing for places. New Zealand arrived in South Africa after victories in the Nations Championship over France, Italy and Ireland, form that helped set up last weekend’s opening Test in Johannesburg.
The series now shifts to Cape Town, followed by a return to Johannesburg and a concluding Test scheduled in Baltimore. For the Springboks and their supporters, the second Test represents a chance to respond after the 33-16 margin in the series opener; for the All Blacks it is about managing player welfare, particularly around head injuries, while maintaining the intensity that has delivered results so far this year.
Selection choices such as Vaa'i’s move to lock and Parker’s promotion offer an insight into New Zealand’s adaptability — and into the selectors’ trust in depth when the physical toll of Test rugby bites. With both teams likely to be sharper and better prepared, Cape Town should provide a sterner examination of each pack’s resilience and roving skill players.
Expect physical collisions, tight exchanges at the breakdown and set pieces that will shape the narrative of this Test — and, perhaps, the fate of the series.
