All Blacks coach Steve Hansen explains why Liam Squire got the nod ahead of Vaea Fifita to play at No 6 against the Springboks.
Vaea Fifita will sit out the All Blacks' next match despite a breakout performance in their last test.
On Thursday morning the All Blacks named their team to face the Springboks on Auckland's North Shore this weekend with Liam Squire named at blindside flanker in the place of Fifita who started in the No 6 jersey against the Pumas in New Plymouth.
Fifita made the No 6 jersey his own in the Taranaki test with barnstorming runs capturing the imagination of All Blacks fans the nation over, but for this weekend's challenge he has missed out with coach Steve Hansen citing a minor injury.
"Vaea had a very good game, but we still think that Liam's the man for this job. Vaea's still got growth in his game to have and he's got a bit of a sore shoulder anyway so wasn't available, but Liam's the form man and we should feel he's doing a good job for us," Hansen said.
With Fifita out of contention, Ardie Savea was named on the bench as cover at flanker with Sam Cane to start on the openside and captain Kieran Read at No 8.
In other selection news, Tasman prop Kane Hames will start at loosehead after being called in to replace Joe Moody who suffered a season-ending injury in last weekend's clash.
Life will get suddenly very real for Hames, who not so very long ago did not even merit a full Super Rugby contract and now will run out for his first test start at loosehead prop for the All Blacks. Against the Springboks, no less.
The 29-year-old late bloomer, who can play both sides, has been whistled up from the provincial fields of Mitre 10 Cup rugby straight into the All Blacks' starting XV in the one major surprise in Hansen's match-day 23 to face the Springboks in Saturday night's Rugby Championship clash in Albany.
All told there are eight changes from the XV that ran on to start the 39-22 victory over Argentina in New Plymouth last Saturday, with Hansen pretty much returning to his best available lineup for the first test of the year against the Boks.
But the decision to start Hames is one few would have seen coming. The injury replacement for Joe Moody (dislocated shoulder) has played two previous tests (both off the bench) in similar circumstances, against the Wallabies in Sydney in 2016, and the same opponents just a few weeks back in Dunedin when he came in to cover for Wyatt Crockett's head knock.
Most expected veteran backup man Crockett to be promoted to starting duties and Hames to be introduced off the bench in the impact role in the second half against the Boks.
But Hansen backs Hames to get the job done from the start, and has left the 34-year-old Crockett in the supersub spot that he has now made his own. He likes the balance of the 23 in this form.
It will be a huge test for Hames, who is not a renowned scrummager. Going against the Wallabies is one thing, but that gnarly Boks front row is sure to ask a few hard questions of the new chum.
That is likely part of Hansen's motivation for throwing him straight in. They are going to know a lot more about his capabilities in the test arena after Saturday night at QBE Stadium.
Assistant coach Ian Foster said earlier in the week they were about to find a lot out about their depth at prop, with both regular starting front-rowers Owen Franks and Moody done for the season, and experienced backup Charlie Faumuina departed for overseas pastures.
"We probably need a little more depth in that position, and there's no better way to get it than to back someone, stick them in and let them go," said Foster.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen believes the up-and-down performance of the team hasn't been a bad thing.
The rest of the starting XV is relatively predictable, with the other notable call seeing Nehe Milner-Skudder getting a second straight start on the wing, this time slotting in on the right side for Israel Dagg who continues to be bothered by his knee problems.
The in-form Rieko Ioane returns in the No 11 jersey, while a fit-again Ryan Crotty comes in for Anton Lienert-Brown at centre and Aaron Smith regains the No 9 jersey after sitting out the Pumas match. At lock, Sam Whitelock returns to the second row to partner Brodie Retallick.
"Our big focus this week has been about continual improvement, growing ourselves as a team, growing our game and how we want to play it," said Hansen. "We need the games we are getting. We've had a bit of adversity, and that will only make us better."
Hansen said South Africa would be a dangerous beast. "They scrummage well, they attack well and their defence is getting better. There's a long-standing rivalry, we enjoy playing them, they play hard and it's always competitive."
Skipper Kieran Read will play his 104th test to overtake Ma'a Nonu as the fifth most capped All Black of all time.
The All Blacks have won nine of their last 10 tests against South Africa and seven on the bounce at home. It will be the New Zealanders' first test in Albany since their 2005 romp over Fiji.
New Zealand sits top of the Rugby championship with 14 points, while South Africa is the only side with a hope of catching them on 11 points.
ALL BLACKS: Damian McKenzie, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Liam Squire, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Kane Hames. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Lima Sopoaga, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Photo by: ANDY JACKSON/STUFF (Caption: Vaea Fifita was in electric form in his first start for the All Blacks, against the Pumas in New Plymouth).