Rugby Championship: All Blacks’ Joe Moody to make Test start

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New Zealand have made two changes for their final Rugby Championship match against South Africa this weekend.

 

Prop Joe Moody will make his first Test start at Ellis Park while lock Jeremy Thrush is also called in to the XV.

Both changes are forced by injury, with Wyatt Crockett and Brodie Retallick unavailable.

Steve Hansen’s All Blacks are looking to wrap up an unbeaten campaign after clinching the title with last weekend’s 34-13 win in Argentina.

Captain Richie McCaw is in line to set a record for the number of games for the All Blacks – both internationals and non-internationals – when he makes his 134th appearance, beating the 133 games played by former lock Colin Meads.

“He is a special player who has played each and every one of those games with a huge amount of commitment, passion and mental fortitude,” Hansen said of McCaw.

The skipper already has the most Test caps for New Zealand with 132 and is third on the all-time list behind Australia’s George Gregan (139 Tests) and Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll (141).

New Zealand team: Dagg; B Smith, C Smith, Fekitoa, Savea; Barrett, A Smith; Moody, Mealamu, O Franks, Thrush, S Whitelock, Kaino, McCaw, Read. Replacements: Coles, B Franks, Faumuina, Luatua, Messam, Kerr-Barlow, Slade, Crotty.