Rugby World Cup
Joe Moody replaces injured Wyatt Crockett for New Zealand
Tom Hamilton
October 22, 2015
New Zealand favourites for heavyweight clash

New Zealand have made one change ahead of their Rugby World Cup semifinal against South Africa on Saturday with Joe Moody replacing the injured Wyatt Crockett at loose-head. 

Crockett was forced off in the first half of last Saturday's commanding win over France, Ben Franks takes Moody's spot on the bench.

Elsewhere Richie McCaw captains the All Blacks for the 12th time in a World Cup -- a total which surpasses the previous best of Martin Johnson's, Will Carling, Sam Warburton, Raphael Ibanez and John Smit's 11.

© Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

"We've had a great preparation so far this week," Steve Hansen said. "We've put a full stop on last weekend's performance and have been slowly building throughout the week to produce another game we can all be proud of.

Pienaar: All-Blacks vs Springboks will be 'bone-crunching'
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"Though we've met many times over the years, we've only played three times at the Rugby World Cup and these Cup finals matches are totally different. They have a live or die nature to them and both teams will be desperate to advance.

"As a group we're really looking forward to this challenge. It will require a massive amount of intensity and composure and accurate skill execution. This team has high expectations of itself and enjoys the big occasions.

"We're all very much looking forward to Saturday. It's the fun part of the week where we get to express our skills, physicality and mental strength; all things we've been working really hard on this week."

New Zealand:

Ben Smith, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Daniel Carter, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read

Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams

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