Luke Jacobson will captain a much-changed All Blacks team to play the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday.
The openside flanker will lead the All Blacks for the first time as head coach Dave Rennie and his fellow selectors shuffle their pack for the second tour game following Saturday's 38-21 win over the Stormers in Cape Town.
Hooker Bradley Slater, called in as a replacement for the injured George Bell, is set to make his debut off the bench along with loose forward Semisi Ta'eiloa.
Seven players involved in the Stormers match have been named in the match-day 23.
Hooker Asafo Aumua, lock Sam Darry, halfback Kyle Preston, and wing Caleb Clarke, who all came off the bench against the Stormers, will start against the Sharks.
Prop Pasilio Tosi, who started on Saturday and gave up two scrum penalties in the first half, is on the bench, alongside fellow prop Ollie Norris and loose forward Ethan Blackadder, who get their second bench start of the tour.
Rennie said Jacobson was the obvious choice as captain in the absence of Patrick Tuipulotu, Codie Taylor and Ardie Savea. Tuipulotu led the team on Saturday, while Taylor is recovering from a calf niggle and Savea will fly out in time for the first Test.
“He is highly respected, has a great feel for the game and will lead through his actions,” Rennie said of Jacobson.
“Two more players will pull on the All Blacks jersey for the first time against the Sharks. On behalf of the whole squad, I want to congratulate Semisi and Bradley on achieving this very special milestone, and I know their family and friends will be incredibly proud.
“The opening match gave the players a real introduction to the way that South African teams play and the Sharks will be no different. With a short turnaround between games, today has been a big day of preparation. There is a lot of excitement in the group, with the majority of the squad about to play their first game of the tour.”
Rennie and his fellow coaches will be expecting improvements following their performance against the Stormers but the team is significantly stronger, with Ethan de Groot, Aumua and Fletcher Newell in the front row and Ruben Love, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea and Damian McKenzie in the backline.
The inclusion of Josh Lord at lock and Tupou Vaa'i at blindside flanker will also help the All Blacks' lineout.
Cam Roigard, the team's top halfback, is on the bench, along with the returning Emoni Narawa.
Centre Billy Proctor will travel home to NZ due to a shoulder fracture suffered against the Stormers.
Rennie said he was working through replacement options and would not rule out a call up for Richie Mo'unga, who helped Canterbury win the Ranfurly Shield against Otago yesterday.
All Blacks team to play Sharks
1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Sam Darry, 6. Tupou Vaa’i, 7. Luke Jacobson (Captain), 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Kyle Preston, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Quinn Tupaea, 14. Fehi Fineanganofo, 15. Damian McKenzie. Reserves: 16. Bradley Slater, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Ethan Blackadder, 20. Semisi Ta'eiloa, 21. Cam Roigard, 22. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23. Emoni Narawa.
Match facts
• The All Blacks have played six matches against the Sharks predecessor, Natal, winning five of the matches, with one drawn. They recorded wins in 1928, 1949, 1970, 1976 and 1992, with the 6-6 draw in 1960. The first two games were played at Alexandra Park in the city of Pietermaritzburg (1928) and Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban (1949) with all other games played at King Park Stadium.
• All Blacks wing Caleb Clarke’s father, Eroni, played twice in Durban. He played at second-five in the 1992 match against Natal and centre in the 1998 Test against the Springboks.
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