Cane returns as captain - New Zealand announce team to play Uruguay

New Zealand captain Sam Cane returns to lead the side in their final Pool A match against Uruguay in OL Stadium in Lyon on Thursday, after making his comeback from a back issue off the bench in their 96-17 victory over Italy. There are nine changes in all, with Cam Roigard starting at scrum-half, Damian McKenzie at full-back and second-row Sam Whitelock playing his 23rd Rugby World Cup match, surpassing England’s Jason Leonard and New Zealand’s Richie McCaw for the all-time appearance record.

1 Ofa Tuungafasi
2 Codie Taylor
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 Samuel Whitelock
5 Tupou Vaa'i
6 Shannon Frizell
7 Sam Cane (c)
8 Luke Jacobson
9 Cam Roigard
10 Richie Mo'unga
11 Leicester Fainga'anuku
12 Jordie Barrett
13 Anton Lienert-Brown
14 Will Jordan
15 Damian McKenzie

Replacements:
16 Samisoni Taukei'aho
17 Tamaiti Williams
18 Fletcher Newell
19 Scott Barrett
20 Ethan Blackadder
21 Finlay Christie
22 Beauden Barrett
23 Caleb Clarke

• Head coach Ian Foster has made nine changes to his starting XV from their 96-17 victory against Italy, with five up front and four in the backline. Only Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Codie Taylor, Shannon Frizell, Richie Mo’unga, Jordie Barrett and Will Jordan retain their places.
• Sam Cane will captain the All Blacks at RWC 2023 for the first time, after playing 20 minutes off the bench last week. He led the side for the first time against Namibia at RWC 2015, before succeeding Kieran Read as captain in 2020.
• Cam Roigard earns his second start of RWC 2023 after playing 66 minutes against Namibia. This will be his first start alongside Richie Mo’unga at half-back. He made two try assists in a 31-minute appearance off the bench last game against Italy.
• If used off the bench, Ethan Blackadder will make his RWC debut. His father Todd Blackadder played 12 tests for the All Blacks between 1998 and 2000, but never played at a Rugby World Cup, after missing out on selection for RWC 1999.
• Damian McKenzie will start at full-back for the first time since November 2021 against Italy. His past five test caps have been at fly-half or off the bench.
• Sam Whitelock will play his 150^th test. He trails only Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones (171) as the most capped player in test rugby. This will be 23rd Rugby World Cup match, surpassing England’s Jason Leonard and New Zealand’s Richie McCaw for the all-time appearance record.
• Victory in this match would also see him surpass Richie McCaw for most Rugby World Cup wins by any player – they are both tied on 20 victories.