All Blacks recall Dane Coles for Bledisloe II, Sonny Bill Williams clears concussion protocols

HOOKER Dane Coles will play his 50th Test and is the only change to the All Blacks’ starting side who will try to lock away the Bledisloe Cup for another year in Dunedin.

Veteran hooker Dane Coles will win his 50th cap for the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Test to be played in Dunedin.

SONNY Bill Williams will line up for the All Blacks in the second Test after being cleared of any after-effects from a head knock in Sydney.

The All Blacks made three changes to their side for the return clash against the Wallabies in Dunedin on Saturday, with Dane Coles returning at starting hooker and Kane Hames and Scott Barrett both joining the bench.

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But it was the players who retained their spots that were more noteworthy, with Damien McKenzie kept at fullback, Aaron Smith picked again at halfback and Williams named at no. 12.

All Blacks medical staff cleared SBW after the big centre appeared to suffer concussion early in the Sydney clash. Footage clearly showed Williams wobbled on his feet but wasn’t taken from the field for a HIA.

SANZAAR launched an investigation into why SBW’s head knock wasn’t spotted.

The All Blacks’ caution with concussion has seen Coles out of action for some time, however. He returns for his first starting Test for the All Blacks in nine months, having missed a large part of Super Rugby with lingering symptoms of concussion.

Veteran hooker Dane Coles will win his 50th cap for the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Test to be played in Dunedin.

In his last game before taking a sabbatical, Ben Smith was considered a chance to move from the wing back to no. 15 on his home turf but McKenzie was retained at custodian.

Aaron Smith remains in Steve Hansen’s good books too, despite revelations of the no. 9 being dishonest with the coach last year.

“It’s been great to be back home in New Zealand and we’ve had a great week’s preparation here in Dunedin. Whilst we were very happy with the way we played for periods of the game in the first Test, there were also moments where we weren’t so crash hot,” Hansen said.

“However, this is a new week and we’re well aware that we’ll have to be better in all areas of our game, and we’ve concentrated on those areas we want to improve. Once again, a good start will be important.”

New Zealand

1. Joe Moody, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. Liam Squire, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Kieran Read (c), 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Ryan Crotty, 14. Ben Smith, 15. Damian McKenzie

Replacements: 16. Codie Taylor, 17. Kane Hames, 18. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19. Scott Barrett, 20. Ardie Savea, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Lima Sopoaga, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown