NZ Leave For SA Leg Of TRC

New Zealand will leave Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams behind as they head to South Africa to face the Springboks at Ellis Park.

 Carter and Williams are being rested by head coach Steve Hansen as the All Blacks rotate their squad.

 Codie Taylor, who scored a try on debut against Argentina, and James Broadhurst have been added to the group that the will travel to South Africa this weekend.

 Lima Sopoaga, the Highlanders Super Rugby-winning fly-half, has been included as a third option at number ten along with Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade.

 "In deciding on the squad to travel to South Africa, the selectors based their selections on three criteria,” said Hansen.

 "Firstly, we have picked experienced players who are well aware of the challenge of playing South Africa at home.

 "Secondly, we want to give some other players the opportunity to see how they cope under the extreme pressure of playing South Africa; and thirdly, we took into consideration the fact that some players in the squad could do with having a break for various reasons, so they will be staying home to freshen up.”