Ian Foster made just two changes to New Zealand’s match-day 23 for Saturday’s World Cup final against South Africa in Paris.
Brodie Retallick, winner of World Rugby’s Player of the Year in 2014 and a key member of the All Blacks’ 2015 World Cup-winning team, comes into the second row in place of Sam Whitelock, who drops to the bench.
The only other change to the Kiwi lineup is tighthead prop Nepo Laulala replacing Fletcher Newell among the replacements against the Springboks, the defending champions.
There are 981 caps in the All Blacks starting XV and four Test centurions in the 23, with five survivors from the 2015 final victory against Australia at Twickenham – Retallick, Whitelock, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith and Sam Cane, who is now captain.
Whitelock is looking to become the first player to win three Rugby World Cups. He started in the 2011 and 2015 finals.
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Photo: World Rugby