Billy Proctor will make his All Blacks Test debut against Fiji after being named to start at centre for Saturday’s (AEST) match at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
Proctor, who will join his older brother Matt as an All Black, is one of six uncapped players named in the matchday 23.
Hooker George Bell, prop Pasilio Tosi, lock Sam Darry, loose forward Wallace Sititi and halfback Noah Hotham are all named in the reserves.
(Photo by Getty Images)
Darry and Hotham missed the initial squad but have come into replace Patrick Tuipulotu and TJ Perenara.
Tuipulotu has remained in New Zealand to freshen up following two tough Tests against England, while Perenara is recovering from a leg injury suffered during the first Test in Dunedin.
All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson congratulated the six uncapped players on their selection.
“They’ve earned their opportunity; they’ve prepared well and they are ready for Test match rugby. We have a lot of respect for Fiji who will be fast and physical and we’re looking forward to the contest,” said Robertson.
“It’s been a superb week in in San Diego. Our leaders have fed off the younger players energy and our focus is now on performing.”
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett will lead a team that has 11 changes in total to the team that started against England at Eden Park last week.
Vice-Captain Ardie Savea remains at No.8, flyhalf Damian McKenzie is set to bring up his 50th Test cap, while second-five Anton Lienert-Brown and fullback Beauden Barrett bring vast experience to the backline.
Caleb Clarke comes into the starting side in the No.11 jersey for the first time in 2024, while reserve wing Emoni Narawa is back on the All Blacks team sheet for the first time since his Test debut against Argentina in 2023.
The 25-year-old was then ruled out of the All Blacks Rugby World Cup campaign after suffering a slipped disc in his back.
Openside Ethan Blackadder and blindside Luke Jacobson join Savea in a new loose forward combination, while the youngest member of the squad, 21-year-old Wallace Sititi is named for the first time in the reserves.
It will be Blackadder’s first Test start since 2021 when he wore the No.6 jersey against Ireland in Dublin.
Similarly hooker Asafo Aumua starts a Test for the first time since 2021, which was also in America, a 104-14 win over the United States in Washington DC.
The All Blacks third match of 2024 will be the eleventh Test between the All Blacks and Fiji and the first on neutral soil since the teams first met in Suva in 1974 where the visitors won by a solitary point, 14-13.
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets, * indicates uncapped)
1. Tamaiti Williams (7)
2. Asafo Aumua (8)
3. Fletcher Newell (15)
4. Scott Barrett (71) (Captain)
5. Tupou Vaa’i (27)
6. Luke Jacobson (20)
7. Ethan Blackadder (10)
8. Ardie Savea (83) (Vice Captain)
9. Cortez Ratima (1)
10. Damian McKenzie (49)
11. Caleb Clarke (20)
12. Anton Lienert-Brown (72)
13. Billy Proctor (0)*
14. Sevu Reece (25)
15. Beauden Barrett (125)
16. George Bell (0)*
17. Ethan De Groot (24)
18. Pasilio Tosi (0)*
19. Sam Darry (0)*
20. Wallace Sititi (0)*
21. Noah Hotham (0)*
22. Jordie Barrett (59) (Vice Captain)
23. Emoni Narawa (1)
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