Richie Mo’unga will play his first Test since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final after he was named in the All Blacks side to face the Springboks in the fourth Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry clash.
The playmaker spent three years in Japan following the global showpiece, but agreed a deal with New Zealand Rugby in order to put himself in contention for the Rugby World Cup.
Mo’unga was recalled to the wider training squad after Billy Proctor’s injury and then featured against the Lions in a midweek tour game, but this will be his first taste of international action under Dave Rennie.
He has replaced Ruben Love in the 10 shirt, with the Hurricanes star omitted from the All Blacks 23 entirely after six successive Test starts.
It is one of a number of changes from Rennie, who has opted to wield the axe for the Baltimore encounter.
Some are enforced with Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea suffering tour-ending injuries last weekend, but the head coach has also decided to make some tactical calls.
Tupou Vaa’i back at blindside
Anton Lienert-Brown and Ethan Blackadder replace Tupaea and Jacobson respectively, while Peter Lakai shifts from blindside flanker to take Savea’s spot at number eight.
That allows Tupou Vaa’i to switch from lock to blindside with Patrick Tuipulotu coming into the engine room alongside Sam Darry.
Ahead of the locks, there is a completely new front-row as Codie Taylor returns to captain the side and he is alongside Fletcher Newell and Ethan de Groot, who is back after a head injury.
There is slightly more familiarity in the backline with key quartet Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Jordie Barrett and Cam Roigard remaining, but Josh Moorby comes in for Leroy Carter, who pays the price for a couple of defensive errors last weekend.
On the bench, Rennie has decided to continue with the 5-3 but it is a powerpacked forward quintet, which includes an all-Hurricanes front-row of Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia and Tyrel Lomax.
Josh Lord, who was injured in that collision with De Groot, is also back in the 23 and he is joined by Wallace Sititi to complete the forward cover. That means Fabian Holland is out of the squad altogether.
Finally, experienced duo Rieko Ioane and Beauden Barrett make their first appearances in a Test matchday 23 under Rennie with Kyle Preston the final member of the squad to face the Springboks in Baltimore on Saturday.
“We always planned for there to be a number of changes for this match. Every player here has worked incredibly hard over the last seven weeks to prepare the team for the seven games we’ve played so far, and all those selected for this Test fully deserve it,” Rennie said.
“We have everything to play for on Saturday. It is our chance to draw the series and end the tour with a performance to be proud of.
“We have had incredible support travelling with us throughout the tour and amazing support back at home. We want to put in a performance that shows how much we appreciate that. We also want to honour the players and management who have returned home early but contributed so much.”
All Blacks team to face Springboks in fourth Test
All Blacks: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Beauden Barrett
Date: Saturday, 12 September 2026
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA
Kick-off: 17:00 (local EDT), 22:00 (UK), 23:00 (France), 23:00 (South Africa), 07:00 (13 September, AEST), 09:00 (13 September, New Zealand), 18:00 (Argentina), 06:00 (13 September, JST), 17:00 (EDT)
How to watch: Sky Sports (UK and Ireland), Sky Sport / Sky Sport Now (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa), Stan Sport / Nine Sport (Australia), Paramount+ (USA), Premier Sports (Canada), WOWOW (Japan), ESPN Sur (Central/South America and Caribbean)
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (RFU) and Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)