All Blacks Pick Uncapped Kyle Preston as Christie Starts and Savea Reaches 100

The selection follows injuries to three scrumhalves that reshaped the match-day 23 for South Africa at Eden Park.

Overview

Finlay Christie takes the No. 9 jersey after Cortez Ratima was ruled out with a rib fracture, with Cam Roigard and Noah Hotham already sidelined.
Kyle Preston, 25, is named on the bench for a potential debut after a breakout Crusaders season highlighted by a hat-trick on Super Rugby debut.
Preston was cleared to play following an ankle issue in training earlier this week, according to the team’s announcement.
Ardie Savea will win his 100th cap, joining Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor as centurions in the match-day 23.
Wallace Sititi starts at No. 8 as Simon Parker moves to blindside and Tupou Vaa’i shifts to lock, Emoni Narawa replaces Sevu Reece on the wing, and prop Tyrel Lomax returns on the bench with New Zealand seeking to consolidate top spot after a 29-23 loss to Argentina; the test is at Eden Park, where the All Blacks are unbeaten in 50 tests since 1994.