New Zealand captain Scott Barrett has returned from a broken finger to lead the side in their Rugby Championship test against South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday, while former skipper Sam Cane will also start against the world champions.
Barrett missed the first two tests of the competition at home against Argentina but takes his place in the second row alongside the in-form Tupou Vaa'i.
Codie Taylor starts at hooker and will have props Tamaiti Williams and Tyrel Lomax alongside him in the front row of a scrum that has functioned well this year and could be a key weapon at the weekend against a depleted South African pack.
Cane makes up a back three with fellow flanker Ethan Blackadder and number eight Ardie Savea.
New Zealand coach Scott Robertson revealed that flanker Dalton Papali'i has a thumb injury, though Cane may have started in his place in any event.
"Sam has been incredible off the field for us, it is an opportunity for him to bring all his experience, calmness and tough shoulders on the Highveld, which we will need. I am excited for him," Robertson told reporters.
"We think it is a balanced loose-trio and the best combination for this test."
Beauden Barrett keeps his place at fullback ahead of Will Jordan, who starts on the wing along with Caleb Clarke, the latter preferred to Mark Tele'a.
A third Barrett brother, Jordie, is at centre alongside Rieko Ioane, while Damian McKenzie keeps his place at flyhalf and TJ Perenara is in the number nine jersey.
Robertson has decided not to fight fire with fire and match the Springboks' 6-2 split between forwards and backs on the bench, opting for 5-3 with scrumhalf Cortez Ratima, centre Anton Lienert-Brown and Tele'a the three back options.
Robertson said he had to make some tough decisions for the game at Ellis Park.
"It is an iconic field, you want to have experienced it before," he added. "There will be some tough moments out there, we know that, so the calmness, tone of voice and composure are all important.
"This was a tough team for me to pick, but that is great as a coach."
South Africa have won nine of the previous 15 meetings at Ellis Park, but the average score in that time has been just 23-22 in their favour.
Their most recent meeting was the Rugby World Cup final in Paris last year, when South Africa edged the contest 12-11 to claim a record fourth global title.
The All Blacks have made a mixed start to their Rugby Championship campaign, beaten 38-30 by Argentina in Wellington before dishing out a comprehensive 42-10 victory over the same opponents a week later in Auckland.
"The last time we played against the Springboks, there were small margins in that game and we missed a couple of kicks," Robertson said.
"That is a reflection of how tight these games are over history. At the back end (of the game) you are usually not far from each other.
"Discipline and set-piece penalties will be important. Give away an offside or a collapsed maul and momentum can change quickly. Those match-ups are important to keep pressure on the opponent."
Robertson said the biggest considerations in selecting his side were experience, combinations and a bench that can counter the Springboks' vaunted 'bomb squad' of forwards in the second half.
The addition of Robertson's compatriot Tony Brown as assistant coach has added an extra dimension to the way the Springboks attack.
"Their kicking game is exemplary, as is their ruck work," added Robertson. "We have seen their game evolve, how they play and how they use their forwards.
"Add in some Tony Brown magic and they can play around you too. They also have the physicality that comes with any Springbok team."
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie, T.J. Perenara; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Ethan Blackadder, Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett (captain), Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Darry, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Tele’a.
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