Dave Rennie drops Cody Taylor as All Blacks rotate pack to counter Springboks

Peter Lakai has been rewarded for a strong impact off the bench in Cape Town with a start at blindside flank for the third Test against the Springboks.

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has made three changes to his starting XV for Saturday's crucial third Test against the Springboks at FNB Stadium in Soweto.

Hooker Codie Taylor, who started the first two Tests, makes way in the run-on side for Asafo Aumua, who earns his first start of the series following impressive displays off the bench. Taylor misses out on the matchday 23 entirely, with Samisoni Taukei'aho brought into the reserves as front-row cover.

George Bower and Tyrel Lomax retain their spots as the starting prop combination.

In the second row, Sam Darry gets his first run-out of the series, starting alongside Tupou Vaa'i, who earns his 50th Test cap. The move pushes Fabian Holland to the bench.

"Tupes is a top man. It’ll be a special day for him and his family and additional motivation for us," Rennie said.

In the back row, Peter Lakai is rewarded for a strong impact off the bench in Cape Town with a start at blindside flanker. Simon Parker drops out of the matchday 23, while Luke Jacobson stays at openside and captain Ardie Savea anchors the scrum at No. 8. Wallace Sititi returns to the 23 to offer loose-forward firepower off the pine.

The starting backline remains unchanged from Cape Town, with Cam Roigard and Ruben Love continuing their partnership in the halves, Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea in the midfield, and Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, and Leroy Carter forming the back three.

Prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord have cleared concussion protocols after missing the second Test, but Rennie opted to give both players an extra week to fully recover.

With the series locked at 1–1, both teams are desperate to claim a decisive advantage ahead of the fourth and final Test in Baltimore.

"With both teams heading into the third Test one apiece, there’s everything to play for on Saturday," Rennie noted. "The team that doesn’t win this weekend can’t win the series. That’s the kind of challenge we love to rise to.

"The team is feeling fresh after a full week’s lead-in to the game and we can’t wait to put everything out on the park."

15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Peter Lakai, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 George Bower.

Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Josh Moorby.