Aaron Smith’s All Blacks career has hit its first hurdle after being dropped for Saturday night’s test against the Springboks in Dunedin.
Smith has been one of the shinning lights of the All Blacks campaign this year but he has lost his place in the starting team to Piri Weepu.
The dropping of Smith is one of four adjustments to the starting team for the All Blacks’ fourth test of the inaugural Rugby Championships.
Sam Whitelock has been given a recall to the second row, replacing Brodie Retallick.
In the front row, hooker Andrew Hore gets the chance to start a test taking Keven Mealamu’s place.
Liam Messam replaces Victor Vito on first fifteen
Incredibly, there are just three players in the starting team for this weekend’s test that were also in the run-on side when the All Blacks last played the Springboks, in Port Elizabeth last August.
Those players are Israel Dagg, Liam Messam, and Tony Woodcock.
The All Blacks will meet the Springboks at 7:35pm.
Story by: Akuila Cama
