Live updates and live commentary of the All Blacks’ opening tour match against the Stormers.

Patrick Tuipulotu will captain an All Blacks team featuring two more rookies for their South African tour opener against the Stormers in Cape Town this Saturday morning (NZT).

Tuipulotu was one of the best performers in his first appearance for the All Blacks this season in their dominant victory against Ireland at Eden Park.

With Ardie Savea joining the All Blacks late after a rest period, and Codie Taylor recovering from injury, Tuipulotu has been rewarded with the responsibility of leading the team for the second time to open their South African tour.

Tuipulotu will partner Fabian Holland, in his return from injury, in a strong second-row pairing.

Hurricanes prop Siale Lauaki and Taranaki playmaker Josh Jacomb will don the black jersey for the first time from the bench, and Beauden Barrett runs the cutter from No 10 in his maiden appearance of the Dave Rennie era after missing selection in the three Nations Championship victories in July.

Chiefs loose forward Simon Parker, starting at blindside flanker, reserve halfback Kyle Preston, Rieko Ioane, who is named on the left wing, Ethan Blackadder and Ollie Norris also appear for the first time under Rennie.

Hurricanes wing Fehi Fineanganofo wasn’t available for selection in this match after battling early tour illness in another setback after suffering a shoulder injury in his brief debut off the bench in the All Blacks season-opening win against France in Christchurch.

While this is very much a second-string All Blacks side to start the tour, with most of Rennie’s frontline figures kept on ice for next week’s hit-out against the Sharks in Durban, chances to press claims for the test team are evident.

Wallace Sititi and Peter Lakai lead those contenders in the highly competitive loose forward ranks.

While Savea and Luke Jacobson are locked in as starters, and Tupou Vaa’i appears likely to complete the starting trio for the first test against the Springboks, the blindside brief and bench spots remain contestable.

Sititi, starting at No 8 in Savea’s absence, will be desperate to alter his trajectory after an underwhelming performance against Italy in Wellington cost him his place for the Irish victory when Anton Segner and Lakai were preferred to provide impact for that match.

Lakai impressed in the opening win against France from blindside flanker but has then been used sparingly after sitting out Italy in Wellington and briefly appearing off the bench at Eden Park.

Josh Moorby’s switch from the wing to fullback holds intrigue, too, after his rapid promotion from test rookie to starting in the back three alongside Damian McKenzie and Will Jordan in the last All Blacks test against Ireland.

Since 1928, the All Blacks have lost 26 times on South African tours. Provincial teams Western Province (1928 and 1976) and Orange Free State account for three of those losses.

On the 1996 tour, the last of this nature when the All Blacks secured their first series success on South African soil, they drew with Griqualand West after scoring in the last minute only for the touch judge to withhold the kicking tee, which forced John Preston to attempt, and miss, the sideline conversion from a hole in the ground.

This time around, though, the All Blacks, despite fielding widespread new combinations which will evoke rusty elements, are expected to account for the understrength South African franchise teams.

Sprinkled among experience elsewhere rookie 20-year-old first five-eighths Yaqeen Ahmed, fresh off guiding the junior Springboks to World Cup success, will debut for the Stormers against the All Blacks outside 22-year-old halfback Imad Khan.

While South African rugby boasts incredible depth, Rassie Erasmus has assembled a 43-strong Springboks squad and the franchise teams are out of season with their Ultimate Rugby Championship campaign not starting for six weeks.

Such a backdrop should provide the platform for new and veteran All Blacks to launch the South African tour on the desired note.

“Firstly, I want to congratulate the new All Blacks Siale and Josh. It will be a very exciting and proud day for them and their families,” Rennie said. “We’ve had a great welcome in Cape Town, and we’re excited to get this tour underway.

“We are really pleased with how our leaders, including match day captain Patrick and tour captain Codie [Taylor], have prepared the group. We can’t wait for Friday.

“We’re well aware of how good this Stormers side is. They made the semi-finals of the United Rugby Championship last year and they are a big, physical side with a mix of talented youngsters and Springboks, so we are preparing for a real war of attrition.”

The Stormers have named 20-year-old Yaqeen Ahmed at first five-eighth, who helped lead the Junior Springboks to the Under-20 World Championship title in Georgia last month.

All Blacks: 15. Josh Moorby, 14. Leroy Carter, 13. Billy Proctor, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. Cortez Ratima, 8. Wallace Sititi, 7. Peter Lakai, 6. Simon Parker, 5. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 4. Fabian Holland, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1. George Bower

Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Siale Lauaki, 19. Sam Darry, 20. Ethan Blackadder, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Caleb Clarke

Stormers: 15. Warrick Gelant, 14. Seabelo Senatla, 13. Ruhan Nel (c), 12. Jonathan Roche, 11. Leolin Zas, 10. Yaqeen Ahmed, 9. Imad Khan, 8. Evan Roos, 7. Hacjivah Dayimani, 6. Deon Fourie, 5. Connor Evans, 4. Adré Smith, 3. Neethling Fouché, 2. André-Hugo Venter, 1. Vernon Matongo.

Reserves: 16. JJ Kotzé, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Sazi Sandi, 19. Ruan Ackermann, 20. Keke Morabe, 21. Wandile Mlaba, 22. Dewaldt Duvenage, 23. Wandisile Simelane.

Cameron McMillan** has been a sports journalist since 2003 and is NZME’s Deputy Head of Sport. **