Sititi to start while Perenara and Barrett to add experience to bench

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has made a few changes for their second Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks naming Wallace Sititi at blindside flanker.

Robertson looks like he is strengthening his bench with the experienced Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara and Luke Jacobson to bring in the much needed firepower when they run on.

If many New Zealanders are unfamiliar with what Sititi offers on the rugby field, maybe the same could be said for Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus.

Perhaps that is what All Blacks coach Scott Robertson wants; a relatively unknown player with X-factor, who is not afraid of reputations, to crash and grind against the big okes from the southern tip of Africa.

The message from Robertson to Sititi has been straight forward: Get physical.

His father, Semo, was a star for Samoa and also represented the Hurricanes in 2000.

Sititi is only 21, but Robertson wants aggressive men who can take the action to the Springboks. Sititi knows he has to put in the big hits in Cape Town tomorrow morning.

Dalton Papali'i, Finau and Jacobson were overlooked, although the latter has been named on the bench.

Papali'i, who has recovered from the thumb injury that forced him out of the Jo'burg test, and Finau, who was used as a substitute in the fixture, couldn't crack the match-day 23.

All Blacks: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Tele'a, Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Wallace Sititi, Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Tayor, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Darry, Luke Jacobson, TJ Perenara, Anton Lienert-Brown, Beauden Barrett.

Source: stuff.co