Pacific power at the heart of All Blacks' Springboks fight

Pacific talent will be prominent across the All Blacks' starting XV as they look to level Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against South Africa with Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i and Richie Mo’unga all named to start in the United States.

Mo’unga returns at first five-eighth for his first Test start of the series, bringing a strong Pacific presence into the All Blacks backline.

Tuipulotu returns to the starting XV at lock for his first Test start of the series, while Vaa’i moves from lock to blindside flanker for Sunday's (NZ time) fourth and final Test in Baltimore, Maryland.

Wallace Sititi, whose father is former Manu Sāmoa captain Semo Sititi, will provide another Pacific connection from the bench as the All Blacks prepare for another physical battle with the Springboks.

Sititi knows exactly what is required after a demanding tour that has tested the squad physically.

"It’s a massive step up and every game on this tour demands everything you’ve got," the 24-year-old told media. "We’re learning quickly what it takes to perform in these conditions against a physical pack."

Wallace Sititi will provide impact from the bench as the All Blacks look to level their series against South Africa. Photo/Photosport

The changes come with the All Blacks needing a win at M&T Bank Stadium to draw the four-Test series 2-2 after South Africa took a 2-1 lead with a 29-24 win in Soweto last weekend.

The Springboks have made just two changes to the side that won 29-24 in Johannesburg last weekend.

Damian Willemse returns at fullback for Cheslin Kolbe, who is out with a broken jaw, while Morné van den Berg starts at scrumhalf alongside Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi leads South Africa into the final Test with a 2-1 series lead over the All Blacks. Photo/Photosport/Shaun Roy

The rest of the starting XV is unchanged, with captain Siya Kolisi again leading a powerful loose trio alongside Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese.

Eben Etzebeth and Ruan Nortjé remain in the second row while Ox Nché, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw continue in the front row.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus knows his side has a chance to close out the series but says there is no room for complacency. “If we don't win, then we have achieved nothing.”

Tuipulotu, who has 58 Test caps in the All Blacks team named for Baltimore, will partner Sam Darry in the second row while Vaa’i moves into a loose forward trio with Peter Lakai and Ethan Blackadder.

Sititi, who has 22 Test caps, is among the replacements.

Their roles could be important against a Springboks side that has used its size and power to put the All Blacks under pressure at the scrum and set piece.

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie says his side must improve at the scrum and set piece against South Africa. Photo/Photosport/Andrew Cornaga

Head coach Dave Rennie says the All Blacks must improve in that area after being punished in Johannesburg.

"The buck stops with me in the end. Look, I think our scrum, if you have a look at our scrum, we were poor and got punished. It's a pretty easy decision for the referee, to be honest,” he said.

“The set piece has to be better, and so we can't hide from it. I reckon we'll do a better job of staying in front of their maul this week."

The Pacific forwards will be part of that response, with Tuipulotu returning to the starting side and Vaa’i shifting into the back row.

The All Blacks have also made changes elsewhere, with Richie Mo’unga starting at first five-eighth for the first time in the series and Anton Lienert-Brown coming into the midfield.

Fletcher Newell starts at tighthead prop, Blackadder comes into the loose forwards and Josh Moorby starts on the left wing.

Codie Taylor will captain the All Blacks in Baltimore after Ardie Savea was ruled out with injury. Photo/Photosport/BackpagePix/Ron Gaunt/Samuel Shivambu

Codie Taylor returns at hooker and will captain the side, replacing injured skipper Ardie Savea.

Taylor will lead an All Blacks team that has already scored 13 tries across the opening three Tests. But Rennie says they need to turn more of their attacking chances into points.

"The line breaks in the weekend were 12 to 5 or something like that. We're creating a lot of opportunities. We beat 32 defenders or something along those lines.

"So we're creating opportunities, and we've just gotta turn some more of those into points. We've got a game that can unlock them.

"Thirteen tries in the three tests, there's not too many teams scoring that many tries against South Africa."

Rennie says the changes to the side were planned despite the injury toll that has hit the squad during the tour.

The Springboks head into Sunday's final Test against the All Blacks with a 2-1 series lead and the chance to seal the series in Baltimore. Photo/Photosport

“We always planned for there to be a number of changes for this match. Every player here has worked incredibly hard over the last seven weeks to prepare the team for the seven games we’ve played so far, and all those selected for this Test fully deserve it,” Rennie said.

The final Test is also the last match of an eight-game All Blacks tour.

M&T Bank Stadium, home of the National Football League (NFL) Baltimore Ravens, will host its first rugby union Test, giving the All Blacks a new setting for a match they cannot afford to lose.

Rennie says the aim is to finish the tour strongly and leave with a drawn series.

"This is more around us putting in a quality performance to finish off what's been an awesome tour for us, learning-wise and culturally and in our rugby stuff…

"So to win on the weekend would mean it's 2-2, and I think that would be a pretty good result for us from where we've come."

Kick-off is at 9am on Sunday, 13 September (NZT).

TEAMS

All Blacks: Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor (c), Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Tupou Vaa’i, Ethan Blackadder, Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard, Richie Mo’unga, Josh Moorby, Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie.

Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Kyle Preston, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett.

Springboks: Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morné van den Berg, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Ruan Nortjé, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nché.

Reserves: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, André Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.