(Reuters) – New Zealand coach Scott Robertson has named Billy Proctor in his starting midfield among six uncapped players in the match-day squad to face Fiji in Friday’s test in San Diego, California.
Proctor replaces Rieko Ioane at outside centre and follows in the footsteps of his brother Matt, who played a test for the All Blacks against Japan in 2018.
The 25-year-old Proctor partners with the promoted Anton Lienert in a rejigged midfield, with Jordie Barrett dropping to the bench following the 2-0 home series win over England.
Five other players will hope to make their test debuts from the bench against the Fijians, including Canterbury Crusaders hooker George Bell, prop Pasilio Toso and lock Sam Darry, a replacement for the rested Patrick Tuipulotu.
Loose forward Wallace Sititi and Noah Hotham, who comes in for injured scrumhalf TJ Perenara, round out the uncapped players.
“They’ve earned their opportunity; they’ve prepared well and they are ready for Test match rugby,” Robertson said in a media release on Thursday.
“We have a lot of respect for Fiji who will be fast and physical and we’re looking forward to the contest.”
With 11 changes from the lineup that beat England 24-17 in the second test in Eden Park, Robertson is using the Fiji test to trial combinations as the All Blacks rebuild following their run to last year’s World Cup final in France.
Only captain and lock Scott Barrett and back row enforcer Ardie Savea have been retained in the starting forwards.
Tamaiti Williams, Asafo Aumua and Fletcher Newell comprise an all-new front row, with Luke Jacobson and Ethan Blackadder starting next to number eight Savea.
Cortez Ratima, who debuted off the bench against England last Saturday, will be starting scrumhalf in place of Finlay Christie while Beauden Barrett has been rewarded with the starting fullback slot after starring off the bench in both tests against the English.
Winger Caleb Clarke will play his first test of the season after recovering from injury, replacing Mark Tele’a.
New Zealand squad:
15-Beauden Barrett, 14-Sevu Reece 13-Billy Proctor, 12-Anton Lienert-Brown, 11-Caleb Clarke, 10-Damian McKenzie, 9-Cortez Ratima, 8-Ardie Savea, 7-Ethan Blackadder, 6-Luke Jacobson, 5-Tupou Vaa’i, 4-Scott Barrett (captain), 3-Fletcher Newell, 2-Asafa Aumua, 1-Tamaiti Williams
Replacements: 16-George Bell, 17-Ethan De Groot, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Sam Darry, 20-Wallace Sititi, 21-Noah Hotham, 22-Jordie Barrett, 23-Emoni Narawa
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Stephen Coates)
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