Rugby World Cup 2019: Brothers Beauden, Scott and Jordie Barrett all start for New Zealand
Jordie, Scott and Beauden Barrett will all start for New Zealand against Canada, with the All Blacks making eleven changes for their second World Cup game.
It is just the second time in Rugby World Cup history that three brothers have started in the same team, following Manu, Fe’ao and Elisi Vunipola of Tonga in 1995.
Jordie, the youngest of the three, comes into the side on the wing to join brother Beauden in the back three, while Scott retains his starting place in the second row, with Steve Hansen opting to shuffle his pack after his side got off the mark with a win over South Africa.
“Our aim is to win the next two Pool matches against Canada and Namibia, as well as continuing to grow our game and manage the workload across the group,” Hansen said.
“With two games four days apart, it’s obvious that we need to use our whole squad.
“Whilst there’s a huge amount of energy and excitement amongst the whole team about what lies ahead, this week there has been a real focus on ourselves and our own standards,”
It is a new front row for the All Blacks, and one of relative inexperience, with Atu Moli, Liam Coltman and Angus Ta’avao each yet to mark their tenth cap.
Patrick Tuipolotu joins Scott Barrett at lock, while Shannon Frizell and Matt Todd come in to the back row. Captain Kieran Read continues at number eight.
T.J. Perenara replaces Aaron Smith at scrum-half, while New Zealand persist with the two playmaker system that served them so well against the Springboks, which means it remains Richie Mo’unga at ten.
Mo’unga will have a new midfield outside of him – Sonny Bill Williams and Jack Goodhue combine in the centres – while Rieko Ioane, with 23 tries in 26 caps, will add his potency on the left wing.
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Jerseys 14 and 15 are both filled by Barretts: Beauden continues at full-back with the versatile Jordie on the right wing.
Canada began their campaign with a heavy defeat to Italy, but Hansen isn’t taking victory for granted.
Indeed the New Zealand head coach his side are working as hard as ever in training ahead of the game in Oita.
“We’ve been working hard. We know we have to keep growing our game. We’ve always been demanding of ourselves when it comes to continued improvement, and that will never change. By doing so, it allows us to have the right attitude, intent and execution.
“When it comes to our preparation, it should never be about who we are playing, but how we are preparing individually and as a team, both mentally and physically.
“By doing this, it means you always respect your opponent and the jersey.”
New Zealand team to face Canada (Test caps in brackets):
1: Atu Moli (2)
2: Liam Coltman (6)
3: Angus Ta’avao (9)
4: Patrick Tuipulotu (26)
5: Scott Barrett (32)
6: Shannon Frizell (6)
7:Matt Todd (21)
8: Kieran Read – captain (123)
9: TJ Perenara (60)
10: Richie Mo’unga (13)
11: Rieko Ioane (26)
12: Sonny Bill Williams (54)
13: Jack Goodhue (9)
14: Jordie Barrett (12)
15: Beauden Barrett (79)
Replacements
16: Codie Taylor (46)
17: Ofa Tuungafasi (31)
18: Nepo Laulala (21)
19: Samuel Whitelock (113)
20: Ardie Savea (40)
21: Brad Weber (2)
22: Ryan Crotty (46)
23: Ben Smith (81)
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