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All Blacks drop veteran hooker Taylor for third Springboks Test / Photo: © AFP
All Blacks drop veteran hooker Taylor for third Springboks Test
New Zealand have dropped veteran hooker Codie Taylor for the third Test against South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The 35-year-old forward did not impress in the 33-26 second Test loss to the Springboks in Cape Town last Saturday.
Several of his line-out throws were intercepted and he was replaced soon after half-time by Asafo Aumua, who proved more effective.
Aumua is promoted to the starting line in place of 111-cap Taylor, who does not make the matchday 23. Samisoni Taukei'aho is the reserve hooker.
Head coach Dave Rennie has made two other changes to the starting XV in a series locked at 1-1 with two matches to come. The All Blacks won the first Test 33-16 in Johannesburg.
Lock Sam Darry, who did not feature in the previous two Tests, replaces Fabian Holland, a try scorer in the Johannesburg Test, who is among the replacements.
The other alteration is in the back row with blindside flanker Simon Parker demoted and his place going to Peter Lakai, who impressed off the bench in previous Tests.
Loose forward Wallace Sititi also comes on to the bench.
Reserve scrum-half Kyle Preston is set to play in his seventh consecutive tour match.
The axing of Taylor reduces to seven the number of All Blacks starters in all six Tests this season.
They are full-back Damian McKenzie, wing Will Jordan, inside centre Jordie Barrett, fly-half Ruben Love, scrum-half Cam Roigard, flanker Luke Jacobson and No.8 and captain Ardie Savea.
Before travelling to South Africa for their first extended tour there in 30 years, New Zealand beat France, Italy and Ireland in the augural Nations Championship.
A number of All Blacks will achieve milestone appearances on Saturday, including McKenzie (80th cap), Jordan (60th) and lock Tupou Vaa'i (50th).
After the showdown at the 92,000-seat Soccer City stadium on the outskirts of Johannesburg, the series moves to the United States with Baltimore hosting the final Test on September 12.
New Zealand (15-1)
Damian McKenzie; Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter; Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ardie Savea (capt), Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai; Sam Darry, Tupou Vaa'i; Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, George Bower
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Fabian Holland, Wallace Sititi, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby
Coach: Dave Rennie (NZL)
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X.White--SFF
