Sititi in for All Blacks as De Groot, Lord miss out again

All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi will play against the Springboks for the first time since last year’s record defeat in Wellington, after coach Dave Rennie named his matchday squad for the third Test against South Africa on Saturday. orlando-books.blog

Meanwhile, prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord, pitted by assistant coach Tamati Ellison to return after clashing heads in the first Test at Ellis Park, were not selected.

Whether that is because Rennie opted for minimal changes since their defeat in Cape Town, or it’s part of more mind games, it is unknown at this stage.

With the series level 1-1 and two Tests to play, Rennie decided that hooker Asafo Aumua will start, with Samisoni Taukei’aho coming into the 23 as impact at FNB Stadium, Soweto (kick-off 5.10pm).

Sam Darry starts at lock in his 11^th Test, while Fabian Holland moves to the bench.

Peter Lakai will start in the six jersey, and Sititi comes into the 23 on the bench.

All Blacks lock to hit 50

Tupou Vaa’i will be playing his 50^th Test for the All Blacks.

“Tupes is a top man. It’ll be a special day for him and his family and additional motivation for us,” Rennie said.

“With both teams heading into the third Test one apiece, there’s everything to play for on Saturday.”

“The team that doesn’t win this weekend can’t win the series. That’s the kind of challenge we love to rise to.

“The team is feeling fresh after a full week’s lead-in to the game and we can’t wait to put everything out on the park.”

Starting XV

Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea (captain, Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai, Sam Darry, Tupou Vaa’i, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, George Bower.

Replacements

Samisoni Taukei’aho, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Fabian Holland, Wallace Sititi, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby.

Pedro Sanchez a de nouveau assuré ce 3 septembre 2026 n'avoir aucune « preuve solide » d'une éventuelle implication du Maroc dans la crise migratoire de Ceuta, tout en condamnant fermement des déclarations de ministres marocains revendiquant la souveraineté sur ce territoire. L’éventuel rôle de Rabat dans l'entrée soudaine de dizaines de milliers de migrants dans l'enclave les 30 et 31 juillet est au cœur des débats en Espagne depuis un mois. Interrogations encore renforcées le 2 septembre par la fuite dans la presse d'un rapport policier pointant notamment la « permissivité » des forces de l'ordre marocaines ces deux jours-là.

140 millions d’euros : c’est le montant, vertigineux, du transfert de Bradley Barcola à Liverpool. L’attaquant français quitte le PSG pour rejoindre les Reds, devenant au passage l’une des recrues les plus chères de l’histoire du championnat anglais. Un transfert qui bat aussi un record : jamais un joueur de Ligue 1 n’avait été vendu aussi cher à un club étranger. Pourquoi le PSG a-t-il accepté de laisser partir Barcola ? Qu’est-ce qui a convaincu Liverpool de miser autant sur l’international français ?

The Springbok Women have named their team to face the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium on Saturday following Swys de Bruin’s shock decision to step down as head coach.

Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September, who guided the team during successful campaigns in Kenya and Fiji, will continue as co-head coaches.

SA Rugby said no further comment would be made on De Bruin’s departure in the short term to allow the team to focus on Saturday’s historic encounter, the Black Ferns’ first Test on South African soil.

MORE: Swys quits Springbok Women

Prop Babalwa Latsha will captain a Bok Women side featuring several players who faced New Zealand in last year’s World Cup quarter-final in England, which the Black Ferns won 46-17.

Latsha, Sanelisiwe Charlie and Lindelwa Gwala are reunited in the front row, while Vainah Ubisi partners Danelle Locher at lock. Catha Jacobs joins Sizo Solontsi and Aseza Hele in the back row.

Among the backs, Byrhandré Dolf, Zintle Mpupha, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Ayanda Malinga and Libbie Janse van Rensburg retain starting roles from that World Cup encounter.

Unam Tose replaces the injured Nadine Roos at scrumhalf, while Alichia Arries starts on the wing, with Maceala Samboya moving to the bench. Replacement scrumhalf Anacadia Minnaar is also set to face the Black Ferns for the first time.

Saturday’s match will kick off at 1:30pm.

SPRINGBOK WOMEN – 15 Byrhandré Dolf, 14 Alichia Arries, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Danelle Lochner, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha (c), 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie.
Bench: 16 Anushka Groenewald, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Nomsa Mokwai, 20 Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 21 Logan Welman, 22 Anacadia Minnaar, 23 Maceala Samboya.

BLACK FERNS – 15 Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 14 Mererangi Paul, 13 Amy Du Plessis, 12 Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, 11 Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 10 Hannah King, 9 Maia Joseph, 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 7 Elinor-Plum King, 6 Mia Anderson, 5 Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 3 Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, 2 Georgia Ponsonby (c), 1 Chryss Viliko.
Bench: 16 Atlanta Lolohea, 17 Maddison Robinson, 18 Santo Taumata, 19 Laura Bayfield, 20 Amarante Sititi, 21 Tara Turner, 22 Ruahei Demant, 23 Justine McGregor.

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

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