Foster makes nine changes as Cane back to captain All Blacks

New Zealand take on Uruguay on Thursday in their final Pool A clash at the OL Stadium in Lyon.

CAPTAIN IS BACK: New Zealand’s Sam Cane comes back into the All Blacks side to resume his captaincy. Pic: ©INPHO/Photosport/Andrew Cornaga

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster has made nine changes to his starting XV as they take on Uruguay in their final Pool A clash on Thursday at the OL Stadium in Lyon (8pm).

Sam Cane comes back into the side to resume captaincy of the All Blacks for the first time in this Rugby World Cup. He played for 20 minutes off the bench last week against the Azzuri. Foster has also made seven changes to the bench.

The six surviving players from their romp over Italy are  Will Jordan, Jordie Barrett, Richie Mo'unga, Shannon Frizell and Codie Taylor and Ofa Tuungafasi. 

Cam Roigard comes in at scrum half for his second World Cup start and his first start alongside Richie Mo'unga. Damian McKenzie comes in at full-back for the first time since November 2021 against Italy. His last five test caps have been at fly-half or off the bench. 

Sam Whitelock comes into the second row for his 150th test cap and 23rd World Cup match surpassing England's Jason Leonard and New Zealand's Richie McCaw for the all-time appearance record. 

Leicester Fainga'anuku comes into the left win with Anton Lienert-Brown partnering Jordie Barrett in midfield.

Luke Jacobson joins Cane and Frizell in a rejigged trio with Tupou Vaa'i partnering Whitelock in the second row. Tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax makes his first start after coming off the bench against Italy.

If used off the bench Ethan Blackadder will make his test debut. 

“We still have everything to play for and our group is preparing accordingly,” said Foster. 

“We have plenty of respect for a Uruguay side that has showed just how good they can be in their pool games.

“It is a short turnaround from our last game against Italy, but being able to play in Lyon for back-to-back games has helped with our preparation. We are confident in the direction we are heading in so it’s now about putting out another solid performance and growing our game.”

NEW ZEALAND: D McKenzie, W Jordan, A Lienert-Brown, J Barrett, L Fainga'anuku, R Mo'unga, C Roigard, O Tuungafasi, C Taylor, T Lomax, S Whitelock, T Vaa'i, S Frizell, S Cane (c), L Jacobson. 

Replacements: S Taukei’aho, T Williams, F Newell, S Barretti, E Blackadder, F Christie, B Barrett, C Clarke.