The All Blacks may believe Carter is a stronger defender than Moorby, who started the previous two tests after a rapid rise from the championship-winning Hurricanes this season.
While Carter is relatively small, he proved last year, in the victory against the Springboks at Eden Park, that he packs a punch by coming off his wing and landing some big shots.
With Handre Pollard recalled to start at No 10 for the Boks, Carter and the All Blacks back three will be targeted under the high ball after failing to defuse that area at Ellis Park.
The remainder of the All Blacks team is largely as expected as they seek to capitalise on their advantage by going 2-0 up in the four-match series.
George Bower, after his role in the heroic scrum shunt on the All Blacks line that definitively turned the first test, fills Ethan de Groot’s vacancy at loosehead prop after de Groot and lock Josh Lord were ruled out because of their head clash last week.
Tupou Vaa’i switches from blindside flanker to his preferred locking position to partner Fabian Holland with a view to shoring up the scrum.
After not appearing in any of the July tests, Simon Parker makes his first start at blindside flanker under Dave Rennie.
Parker started the South African tour matches against the Stormers and Bulls before emerging off the bench late in the first half of the first test when Lord departed and Vaa’i switched to lock.
Rennie rates Parker’s defensive abilities and values his height at the lineout.
Hurricanes prop Xavier Numia and Patrick Tuipulotu are the other changes to the bench. Tuipulotu played 48 minutes as he captained the mid-week All Blacks team in their scrappy win against the Lions on Wednesday. He will seek to add impact from a traditional 5-3 bench split.
“While we were happy with the win last week, I think both teams will be better this weekend,” Rennie said.
“We’ve 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’re really looking forward to this weekend.”
All Blacks team:
1. George Bower, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Tupou Vaa’i, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Ardie Savea (c), 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Quinn Tupaea, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Damian McKenzie
Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Peter Lakai, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Josh Moorby.
Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast.
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