Full-back Beauden Barrett will captain New Zealand for the first time when he leads the All Blacks onto the pitch for their Nations Championship match against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, November 14, at 14:10 GMT.
All Blacks Team Changes
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has made eight changes to the starting line-up from the side that secured a 43-21 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend, alongside 10 alterations to the overall match-day 23 squad. This fixture marks the 35-year-old Barrett’s inaugural appearance as starting captain in his 149th international appearance, with his brother Scott Barrett selected at lock and Richie Mo’unga taking the fly-half position.
Explaining the decision, Dave Rennie told BBC Sport that Beauden brings vital experience and earns massive respect from everyone in the team. Rennie added that captaining the All Blacks in a Test is an honor Barrett does not take lightly, making it a proud day for him and his family.
Record try-scoring wing Will Jordan is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while centre Jordie Barrett is also absent due to a facial injury sustained against Scotland. Meanwhile, flanker Anton Segner and wing Fehi Fineanganofo will make their first Test starts, with Fineanganofo’s summer move to Newcastle Red Bulls having been delayed by a year.
Additional adjustments see prop George Bower, hooker Asafo Aumua, and scrum-half Cortez Ratima shift from the bench into the starting XV. Mo’unga, Fineanganofo, lock Josh Lord, and centre Anton Lienert-Brown are also brought into the starting formation.
Upcoming Match and Historical Record
Rennie stated that the squad has built strong depth with significant competition for places, noting that they have chosen a powerful line-up boasting 783 caps combined. New Zealand enters the encounter holding a 34-match winning streak against Wales that dates back to 1953.
Regarding their opponents, Rennie described Wales as a proud rugby nation that is developing well under Steve Tandy, acknowledging the danger they present and the atmosphere of a passionate crowd at the Principality Stadium. Currently, New Zealand and South Africa remain undefeated in the southern hemisphere standings, competing for the top position ahead of the play-off weekend at the end of the month.
The starting New Zealand team features B Barrett as captain, supported by Fineanganofo, Tupaea, Lienert-Brown, and Moorby in the backline, alongside Mo’unga and Ratima. The forwards comprise Bower, Aumua, Newell, S Barrett, Lord, Segner, Lakai, and Sititi, while the replacements bench includes Bell, Numia, Tosi, Hannah, E Blackadder, Fainga’anuku, Preston, and R Ioane.
