New Zealand select Mo’unga at flyhalf to face Lions on South Africa tour

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 23 : New Zealand have picked Richie Mo'unga at flyhalf and Beauden Barrett at fullback for their Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour fixture against the Johannesburg-based Lions at Ellis Park on Tuesday.

The All Blacks claimed a deserved 33-16 victory over South Africa in the first of four tests in the series, but return to action against the provincial Lions side ahead of the second clash with the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday.

• Mo’unga was a replacement for centre Billy Proctor on the tour after returning from a club stint in Japan having not played for the All Blacks since they lost to the Springboks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in Paris.

• Rieko Ioane starts at centre alongside Timoci Tavatavanawai, and wings Emoni Narawa and Fehi Fineanganofo make up the back three with Barrett.

• Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston and Anton Lienert-Brown are all on the bench having come on as replacements in the test win over South Africa at the weekend.

• "With the naming of this matchday 23, everyone currently in the squad will have played on tour, which is great for creating depth and competition for places in the test team," coach Dave Rennie said.Team: 15-Beauden Barrett, 14-Fehi Fineanganofo, 13-Rieko Ioane, 12-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 11-Emoni Narawa, 10-Richie Mo’unga, 9-Noah Hotham, 8-Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7-Ethan Blackadder, 6-Wallace Sititi, 5-Patrick Tuipulotu, 4-Sam Darry, 3-Pasilio Tosi, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1-Siale LauakiReplacements: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18-Saula Mau, 19-Jamie Hannah, 20-Peter Lakai, 21-Kyle Preston, 22-Josh Jacomb, 23-Anton Lienert-Brown.