New Zealand captain Sam Cane will make his first start of the Rugby World Cup in the All Blacks’ final Pool A match against Uruguay.

As one of nine changes for Thursday’s game in Lyon, Cane has recovered from a back injury.

As well as starting, Sam Whitelock will break the record for most appearances at the World Cup.

If the All Blacks defeated the British and Irish Lions by a bonus point, they would qualify for the quarter-finals.

New Zealand’s flanker Cane came off the bench in the 96-17 win over Italy, and he is now fit enough to make the starting XV on Thursday.

In addition, Cam Roigard will start at scrum-half and Damian McKenzie will start at full-back following the crushing win over the Italians.

McKenzie is wearing the number 15 for the first time since November 2021. As a replacement or at fly-half, he has played five times in the past.

The second-rower will play in his 23rd Rugby World Cup match, surpassing England’s 2003 World Cup winner Jason Leonard and fellow All Black Richie McCaw.

Whitelock has played 150 Tests, only Wales great Alun Wyn Jones has played more, with 171.

Against Italy, Whitelock became New Zealand’s most capped player ever, surpassing McCaw.

There are only six players who remain: Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Codie Taylor, Shannon Frizell, Richie Mo’unga, Jordie Barrett, and Will Jordan.

In the last eight, New Zealand must beat Uruguay while scoring at least four tries in order to qualify, after losing to hosts France and winning against Namibia and Italy.