A number of other angles on what All Blacks players could be picked for the dead rubber against Wales deserve to be promoted, but the most glaring one is whether Savea will win back his left wing jersey for the Test on Saturday night.
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The prop changes are the only alterations from the side that lost 36-22 at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has selected three new caps for Saturday’s third Test against Wales.
“For me the big stat is we went from 41 per cent territory and possession last week to 58 per cent (in the second test)”, Gatland told reporters after the game in Wellington.
The rest of the pack stays the same for the clash under the roof on Saturday morning (kick-off 8.35am) with captain Sam Warburton playing his 50th global as a captain having skippered Wales 48 times and the British and Irish Lions twice.
Elliot Dixon wins his first cap at blindside flanker while Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Liam Squire will look to make their debuts from the bench.
“Playing under the rood in Dunedin will be a great atmosphere and a quick track and we need to take our game to the All Blacks”.
However, in a rare piece of good news from the team doctor, centre Jamie Roberts has passed concussion tests and is available to play in Dunedin.
“With the series won, it came down to risk and reward and we felt the rewards of seeing these new players in the Test arena, after watching them for three weeks on the training pitch, outweighed any risks”, Hansen said when naming the side Thursday.
Hansen is hopeful that outside-half Aaron Cruden will be able to be considered for selection this weekend after being given the all-clear from doctors after injuring his neck in a first-half tackle by Luke Charteris.
The 26-year-old Dixon will make his test debut on his home ground.
But going into the final Test in Dunedin, Gatland said he still believed Wales could avoid a whitewash.
“We have played some good rugby in the first two Tests and we want to finish the tour on Saturday with an 80 minute performance that we are happy with”, said Gatland.
On the bench, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett and Luke Romano join possible debutants Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Liam Squire as forward cover, while there’s a new trio of back reserves in Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga and Waisake Naholo, who’s on the bench having started the first two tests.
Charteris and Alun Wyn Jones form the second-row and Ross Moriarty, captain Sam Warburton and Taulupe Faletau comprise the loose trio.
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Francis swaps with Samson Lee, who is bench cover along with the called-up Aaron Jarvis.
