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Richie Mounga and Beauden Barrett joke after the Aotearoa Super Rugby match between Crusaders and Blues in Christchurch on July 11, 2020.
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
Veteran All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett will go face to face with the rival Richie mo’unga in Saturday’s North-South Island match, a match described as “for the history books.”
The teams named for the inter-island clash include a mix of seasoned internationals and promising youngsters unearthed during New Zealand’s recently completed Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
The North-South rivalry, which dates back to 1897 but has rarely been played in recent years, has been revived after New Zealand’s home testing schedule was messed up by the coronavirus pandemic.
It will be played behind closed doors in Wellington on Saturday after an outbreak of the virus forced changes to the original plan to host it in Auckland on August 29.
By far the most anticipated showdown is between Barrett del Norte and challenger Mo’unga, who took over as pivot in an experimental system at last year’s Rugby World Cup with mixed results.
The south, captained by Sam Whitelock, is dominated by the Crusaders, who this year added the Super Rugby Aotearoa title to their 10 Super Rugby crowns.
South coach Brad Mooar said the game had sparked intense parochial rivalries between the teams.
“The only thing missing from the stadium will be the fans and we are really disappointed that we cannot share the experience with them,” he said.
“We know there will be a large audience watching at home, so we hope they enjoy what is shaping up to be a game for the history books.”
The North-South match was one of the most contested matches on New Zealand’s rugby calendar, but fell out of favor after the advent of professionalism in 1995.
In addition to boosting New Zealand Rugby’s depleted coffers, Saturday’s game will also give the All Blacks selectors one last chance to evaluate the players before naming a team on Sunday for the upcoming testing season.
It is unclear if international matches will be played, but New Zealand Rugby reportedly wants to play a series against Australia from October 10, followed by the Rugby Championship from November 7 to December 12.
Teams:
north
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko John, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Akira John, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe
Substitutes: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Dalton Papalii, 21 Aaron Smith, 22 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23 Mitchell Hunt
Coach: John Plumtree
South
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Brayden Ennor, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Mitchell Dunshea, 4 Sam Whitelock ( captain), 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 George Bower, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Mana Selby-Rickit, 20 Dillon Hunt, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Josh John, 23 Leicester Earthquake
Coach: Brad Mooar
