Its not every day that the All Blacks would leave Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara out of the starting line-up, but coach Scott Razor Robertson believes that they can make a real difference off the bench in tomorrows Rugby Championship clash against the Springboks.
Scott Barrett captains from No 4 and Jordie Barrett will start at inside centre in the side that Robertson announced yesterday, but big brother Beauden will have to weave his magic as a substitute at Cape Town Stadium tomorrow (5pm).
Beauden was at fullback in last weeks 31-27 defeat at Ellis Park, and used his speed and skills to unlock the Bok defence, including a try assist to wing Caleb Clarke. But Robertson picked a brand-new back-three yesterday, with Clarke ruled out with a sore back as Will Jordan has been shifted to fullback from No 14, while Sevu Reece and Mark Telea are back on the wings.
Jordan has a remarkable try-scoring record of 33 in 34 Tests, and perhaps having him at No 15 will see him getting his hands on the ball even more in Cape Town.
Reece and Telea provide plenty of pace and side-stepping skills out wide too, and then the impact of Beauden Barrett in the second half could help the Kiwis land the knock-out blow that they werent able to dish out in Johannesburg.
