Richie McCaw: Back to lead NZ
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has named a hugely experienced and in-form side for this weekend's Test outing with Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
There are 745 caps in New Zealand's starting XV and 140 on their eight-man bench.
Nine changes have been made to last week's starting side in Rome, where the world champions left with a 42-10 win.
As expected, Richie McCaw regains the captaincy from Kieran Read after having a weeks rest with Liam Messam remaining the premier blindside flank.
Tony Woodcock, Owen Franks and hooker Andrew Hore make up the front row, while Luke Romano is the preferred locking partner for Sam Whitelock in the second row.
In the backs, Aaron Smith holds off Piri Weepu push for the number nine jersey, Dan Carter returns at fly-half with the All Blacks most successful centre pairing of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith retained in the midfield.
On the wings, Julian Savea gets his third successive start on tour and will combine with wing Cory Jane and full-back Israel Dagg in the back three.
Grand Slam champions in the Six Nations earlier this year, Wales have lost their last five Tests and not beaten the All Blacks since 1953.
"We have always known this game will be a fiercely contested match," said Hansen.
"We have known since the World Cup that this would be the game that they would be targeting in this series, so any recent performances or results won't have any bearing on this match.
"We are all excited by what comes with this challenge, along with the fact that we will be playing in one of the world's greatest rugby stadiums."
The world champions are unbeaten for 19 Tests going back to last year's loss to Australia in Brisbane.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock. Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Brodie Retallick, 20 Victor Vito, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Ben Smith.
Date: Saturday, November 24
Kick-off: 17:15 GMT
Venue: Millennium Stadium
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garces, Greg Garner (England)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Comments
carpelone says...
Apart from Savea, this is the best team NZ can field.
On behalf of all Kiwis.....? What? Brands you should apologies to all your fellow countrymen to represent them with such a dumb and arrogant sentence. But maybe you are just an incompetent teenager.
Posted 10:56 22nd November 2012
GCP_jones says...
All Blacks undfeated here in Europe for 10 years (I think Munster came close in 2008) and will remain so come Sunday.
Not a fan of the Lions thing but instead of touring the Southern hemisphere every 4 years maybe they should start looking at combining the 4 teams each November as an alternative to these ever predictable Test match results.
Posted 10:37 22nd November 2012
ferdie says...
markpat - my error; Ben Smith and Tamati Ellsion were both injured, got the wrong one as being available, TE is still 'out' with his toe.
wfgwoody - the team that won in 2003 55-3 was not too bad either. Look at the list - lots of these players had (and some still have) great careers in Black and beyond: Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Casey Laulala, Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko, Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Greg Somerville, Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (c), Mose Tuiali'i
Replacements Anton Oliver, Carl Hayman, Reuben Thorne, Marty Holah, Byron Kelleher, Ma'a Nonu, Rico Gear
Posted 10:22 22nd November 2012
tuffnut says...
@brands - please don't claim to speak on behalf of all kiwis with such arrogant bs.
To my Welsh friends, the All Blacks have put in their best possible side as a sign of respect for your team. Not only do they know the Welsh dragon has the capability to rise up and give the ABs a good fight, but Steve Hansen is also aware that he's most likely to be up against Gatland in 2015 for the AB post and given each team's record leading up to this match and the players he has to choose from, even a close score-line, let alone an upset, will be a black mark against Hansen at that job interview.
Good luck to both sides and may we see plenty of positive attacking rugby.
Posted 09:57 22nd November 2012
Frooschman says...
Paddypower are making Wales 8/1 to win this match. Feels a little short to me!
Posted 09:09 22nd November 2012
Taffster says...
Not a bad looking side, bench pretty handy too. There will be know hiding place on Saturday. Please Wales turn up and as another poster said try not outplay the ABs at their own game and try and keep hold of the ball for a bit.
Posted 08:31 22nd November 2012
markpat says...
@Ferdie - if Ben Smith wasn't consider, how did he make it onto the bench?
Posted 08:24 22nd November 2012
rolf says...
Smith/Carter is probably the best they can field, currently.
Thats a RWC-class side.
But Whatever happened to Ali Wiliams?
stole silver spoons?
Richie looks good in Movember.
Posted 08:21 22nd November 2012
StunTheMullet says...
Time to smash the crap out of Wales and England to remind the incompetent hypocrites and rulers of home nations rugby, the UK Press I mean IRB, who's boss.
Posted 08:10 22nd November 2012
georgesmith says...
All good things come to an end. The ABs bench can surely buckle under pressure if Wales can rev it up a bit. I hope the match officials come prepared to punish R. McCheat and the likes.
Posted 07:50 22nd November 2012
rugbyjarhead says...
Is there any player on the welsh team that could slot into this all black team? It would seem, man for man, the kiwis are better and by a good margin. I can see wales being competitive in the pack but their backline is lacking vision right now. 10, 12 ,13 not conjuring much. Battering rams really. As opposed to the mercury man Conrad Smith. Boyos better watch him.
Posted 07:48 22nd November 2012
rico says...
ferdie.....facts.
well, all I can say is NZ have gotta lose sometime so why not on saturday!
come on YOU WALES!
Posted 07:47 22nd November 2012
JMehrtens says...
So Weepu might become the most used reserve player
Posted 07:39 22nd November 2012
ferdie says...
some numbers - The midfield partnership of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith now have a world record of 35 Test match wins - heading the 34 wins by English duo Jeremy Guscott and Will Carling.
This test is Nonu's 75th test, Smith's 65th.
The All Blacks have scored 44 tries this year.
Julian Savea is the leading international try scorer this year with 10 tries from 7 tests.
My note - can Savea beat the Qantas Wallabies try total for 2012 (13 in 13 tests) ?
Posted 07:36 22nd November 2012
wfgwoody says...
Reading that starting 15 makes me tingle. Is this the best AB's team ever?
Posted 07:30 22nd November 2012
ferdie says...
solid side and while there's lots of test caps, still newish players soming through - 5 have less than 10 tests, another 5 less than 20.
AB site says Mealamu's injury last week ruled him out, also not considered Barrett, Ben Smith, and Adam Thomson (pending the suspension appeal).
Carter's first test cap was v Wales ten seasons ago - playing at 12 with Carlose Spencer at 10. Carter scored 20 points on debut in a 55-3 win. McCaw was on the bench - only one of the NZ subs was used that day, Brad Thorn, getting his first test cap.
Posted 07:27 22nd November 2012
brands says...
on behalf of all Kiwis I would like to apologise to Wales for what they are about to recieve.
Posted 07:24 22nd November 2012
PREEST says...
I'm sure Wales will be better than the their recent showings, but I think I big win is in store for the ABs. I think it's important for Wales to start well. If they concede early it will be a long night. It's going to be an interesting game, but I think the game of the weekend will be Ireland vs Argentina.
Posted 07:13 22nd November 2012
jmanngod says...
Great team, great ref - great game in store. Highlight of the series no doubt.
Posted 06:26 22nd November 2012