Rugby Championship
All Blacks drop three big names for South Africa
ESPN Staff
July 18, 2015
Malakai Fekitoa has been named to replace Sonny Bill Williams © Getty Images
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The All Blacks have named their 31-man squad to travel to South Africa for their second Test of the Rugby Championship against the Springboks. Steve Hansen has chosen to rest big names Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams and Waisake Naholo with Malakai Fekitoa and Lima Sopoaga named in their place.

Carter had an impressive night for the All Blacks in their 21-point win over Argentina on Friday night, with the playmaker having a hand in several of the side's tries while also converting two penalties and four conversions.

The squad flies out to South Africa on Saturday morning and is expected to land in South Africa on Sunday evening with their Test to be played on Saturday 25 July.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen announced his reasoning behind his squad selection in a press release before the team left New Zealand.

"In deciding on the squad to travel to South Africa, the selectors based their selections on three criteria. Firstly, we have picked experienced players who are well aware of the challenge of playing South Africa at home.

"Secondly, we want to give some other players the opportunity to see how they cope under the extreme pressure of playing South Africa; and thirdly, we took into consideration the fact that some players in the squad could do with having a break for various reasons, so they will be staying home to freshen up."

All Blacks squad for South Africa:

Dane Coles, Keven Mealamu,Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Tony Woodcock, James Broadhurst, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Samuel Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Victor Vito, Andy Ellis, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade, Lima Sopoaga, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith, Israel Dagg, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea, Ben Smith

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