New Zealand, current rugby world champions, have recently named two uncapped players for their second-string starting line-up for their upcoming test against Japan.
The team has called midfielder Mott Proctor and forward Dalton Papali’l for the XV, and they expect that another six players will be called to make their Test debuts from the bench.
Skipper Luke Whitelock is set to captain for the first time in a Test, and hooker Dane Coles will be returning after a year’s absence due to a knee injury. These changes are part of coach Steve Hansen’s plans for the team as they head out to Europe, and just after they beat Australian rivals 37-20 in the third game of the Bledisloe Cup, and another subsequent whitewash for the All Blacks.
Whitelock will be the 70th player to skipper in the All Blacks as he leads the team out against 2019 World Cup hosts Japan, and will be following the same road as his brother Sam, who captained the squad during last year’s season.
The All Blacks have clashed with Japan three times in the past, and have accumulated a total score of 282 against the Asian team, including a World Cup record of 145-17 over the Brace Blossoms during a match in Bloemfontein in 1995.
Despite most of Hansen’s core players heading off to play in the November Test matches, the coach has still warned his remaining players not to take the Japan team too lightly.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Ladbrokes |  | 5/5 | 100% Match up to $250 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.9/5 | 100% Match | Bet now |
More About Trent Wilson
Trent Wilson is OnlineBetting.nz’s resident sports news expert. He draws on his extensive sporting knowledge, his qualification in sports management and his passion for betting to provide the latest, most up to date information on sporting events in New Zealand and across the globe. Trent is a veritable treasure trove of sports information and has been betting online for several years. He prides himself in keeping his readers informed, and in always offering an unbiased standpoint that reflects exactly what’s going on in the sports world.
View Posts - Visit WebsiteYou May Also Like:
NZ Rugby Mourning The Death Of Sean Wainui
New Zealand Rugby has described the sudden passing of Chiefs and All Blacks player Sean Wainui as a dark day for the game. Wainui died in a car crash early on Monday morning. According to a statement issued the Bay of Plenty police department, the crash at McLaren Falls had ….
Argentina Coach Unhappy Over Photo Exclusion
Argentina head coach Mario Ledesma on Saturday voiced extreme unhappiness on behalf of his team after the Argentinian Rugby Championship side got left out of the captain’s photoshoot in Townsville. Ledesma in a post-game conference delivered an unexpected message: one of reacting to a situation he said he deemed disrespectful. ….
Clarke In No Hurry For All Blacks Return
Caleb Clarke’s immediate plans for the future don’t involve re-joining the All Blacks – at least not soon. Instead, he’ll be returning to a 15-man Auckland backline on the weekend, albeit not to play. Despite having been named as part of the All Blacks Sevens team that won silver in ….
Wallabies Changes for Rugby Championship Opener
Dave Rennie has made some changes to the Wallabies lineup. This is as everyone readies for the Rugby Championship opener against the All Blacks at Eden Park on August 14, 2021. He’s decided that his young backline could do with some experience and added Matt To’omua. The 31-year old player ….
AB Coach Ian Foster A Frustrated Figure
New Zealand coach Ian Foster says the lack of creative solutions available to sports teams looking to enter the country while the global health crisis drags on is nothing short of lamentable. The All Blacks coach described the situation as an ongoing frustration. Foster voiced his opinion on the back ….