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Christie is only All Blacks change for second England Test / Photo: © AFP/File
Christie is only All Blacks change for second England Test
Finlay Christie was named Thursday as All Blacks scrum-half for the second Test against England in Auckland on Saturday, replacing the injured TJ Perenara in the only change to New Zealand's starting XV.
Christie, 28, came off the bench in the 16-15 win in Dunedin to replace Perenara, who had suffered a knee injury.
"Finlay has worked hard and earned his place in the starting side," All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said.
Christie will lead an unchanged backline led by fly-half Damian McKenzie and bookended by fullback Stephen Perofeta.
Uncapped Waikato Chiefs scrum-half Cortez Ratima, 23, could make his debut after being named on the bench.
"It will be a proud day for Cortez and his whanau (family),": said Robertson.
A victory at Eden Park, where the All Blacks have not lost in 50 matches since 1994, would see New Zealand sweep the two-Test series.
England have only beaten the All Blacks twice on New Zealand soil, last tasting victory in 2003.
New Zealand (15-1)
Stephen Perofeta; Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Tele'a; Damian McKenzie, Finlay Christie; Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali'i, Samipeni Finau; Patrick Tuipulotu, Scott Barrett (captain); Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan De Groot.
Replacements: Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Cortez Ratima, Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa'i, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Asafo Aumua.
H. Müller--BTZ
