Stacked All Blacks side lined up for Springbok showdown

The All Blacks have selected their strongest available XV for Friday night’s Qatar Cup clash against the Springboks at Twickenham Stadium.

ALL BLACKS BRING OUT BIG GUNS

Two days after the Springboks named their star-studded lineup for the Test, the All Blacks followed suit by picking their best possible side for the same match-up.

Veteran Dane Coles will scrum down in the middle of props Ethan de Groot and Tyrol Lomax, Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett resume their lock pairing and captain Sam Cane parters with Luke Jacobson and Ardie Savea in the back row to complete the forward pack.

In the back division, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga are inserted as the halfback-axis, Jordie Barrett and Reek Ioane combine in the midfield and the back three consists of Mark Telea, Will Jordan and Beauden Barrett.

ALSO READ: All Blacks World Cup Guide — Key players, Wild Cards, Surprise Packages

THE BENCH FILLED WITH FRINGE PLAYERS

The All Blacks’ reserves consist mainly of fringe players looking to make one last impressing before the Rugby World Cup.

Centre Anton Lienert-Brown is the most experienced of the impact players in terms of Test caps, followed by Dalton Papali’i.

ALL BLACKS – 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mounga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Subs: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Tupou Vaai, 21 Dalton Papali’i, 22 Cam Roigard, 23 Anton Leinert-Brown.