Tom Taylor to make All Black debut at outhalf against Australia

South Africa stick with unchanged starting line-up for trip to Argentina

Tom Taylor, who replaces injured outhalf Aaron Cruden,  in action during a New Zealand training session in Wellington. Photograph:  Phil Walter/Getty Images.
Tom Taylor, who replaces injured outhalf Aaron Cruden, in action during a New Zealand training session in Wellington. Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images.

Tom Taylor will make his Test debut when New Zealand look to seal the Bledisloe Cup for the 11th successive season on Saturday in their Rugby Championship clash against Australia.

Taylor, the son of 1987 World Cup winning inside centre Warwick, will slot into the pivotal outhalf role for his first match after Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett had all been ruled out of the game with injury.

The 24-year-old had been brought into the side along with 10-Test All Black Colin Slade on Monday following medical checks on Cruden (knee) and Barrett (calf) after the resounding 47-29 victory over the Wallabies in Sydney last week.

Taylor was the only enforced change to the backs from the match in Sydney, while lock Brodie Retallick moves from the bench to replace the injured Luke Romano in a forward pack that includes prop Tony Woodcock, who will earn his 100th cap.

READ SOME MORE

South Africa have stuck with the starting lineup that romped to a 73-13 win over Argentina last weekend for their return match in the Rugby Championship in Mendoza on Saturday.

The only change to the match-day 23 is scrumhalf Jano Vermaak replacing Fourie du Preez on the bench, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced yesterday.

Vermaak, who has one cap, won in June against Italy, comes in with Du Preez returning to Japan for club commitments.

NEW ZEALAND ( v Australia): I Dagg; B Smith, C Smith, M Nonu, J Savea; T Taylor, A Smith; T Woodcock, A Hore, O Franks, B Retallick, S Whitelock, S Luatau, R McCaw (capt), K Read. Replacements: D Coles, W Crockett, C Faumuina, J Thrush, S Cane, T Kerr-Barlow, C Slade, C Piutau.
SOUTH AFRICA (v Argentina): W le Roux; B Basson, J J Engelbrecht, J de Villiers (capt), B Habana; M Steyn, R Pienaar; T Mtawarira, A Strauss, J du Plessis, E Etzebeth, J Kruger, F Louw, W Alberts, D Vermeulen. Replacements: B du Plessis, G Steenkamp, C Oosthuizen, F van der Merwe, S Kolisi, J Vermaak, P Lambie, J Serfontein.