Mealamu: Veteran hooker replaces the suspended Andrew Hore
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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has made three changes to his starting XV for Saturday's tour finale against England at Twickenham.
Dan Carter returns after pulling out of last week's win over Wales last weekend due to a calf injury, but has proven his fitness to start in his 93rd Test.
Veteran hooker Keven Mealamu, who has also been struggling with a calf issue throughout the tour, takes the place of the suspended Andrew Hore. And in the final change, lock Brodie Retallick replaces Luke Romano.
"There is huge motivation within the team to finish the season off on a high and real excitement ahead of this weekend, with a packed house at Twickenham always a great occasion," said Hansen.
"We know that the English will lift themselves for their final match of the year, especially following their two recent narrow defeats (to South Africa and Australia) and we need to be prepared to match them in all facets."
The All Blacks have played England 34 times since 1905 with 27 wins to the All Blacks, six to the English and one draw. The last Test between the two sides was at Twickenham in November 2010, with the All Blacks winning 26-16 on that occasion.
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 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumunia, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Victor Vito, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Ben Smith.
Date: Saturday, 1 December
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Comments
StunTheMullet says...
@ jmanngod - Yep, and he sure did a good job of ruining the All Blacks vs South Africa game in Dunedin with his whistle infused display.
Will suit England down to the ground as there won't be any time for rugby in between whistle.
Very willing to being pleasantly suprised and eat my words though.
Posted 22:21 29th November 2012
Westwest says...
Well this is going to be a tuff one. I don't think it will be a huge score line.
But I also cant see the English Scoring many trys.
Maybe if they can hold the ball and not go to there old plan of kick it away up field hope for a penalty! May be they have been working all week on set plays that involve the backs? But I dought it. Even if they have I can't see them out thinking the AB's back line and getting around them. Even if they do the AB's will change there game plan to suit. It takes the English a week in from of the White board to change there's!!
Posted 22:20 29th November 2012
admack says...
at least 40 points to the ABs
Posted 12:41 29th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Man for man i think England just might have an edge... might.... at scrum-half.
Gatland had the right game plan for ABs. They were right to kick for corners instead of penalties. They could have had 3 14 man push overs if Priestland had not kicked long. Agree with you PREEST. Gamble all the way. a 50;50 7 point scenario is good news as 3 pointers which anyway are not 100% but 70:30 for 3 points in a high pressure game and will not win it. Only easy kicks below the posts otherwise gamble gamble gamble. And enjoy it. And dont make Farrells first kick a hard one. He might implode.
Posted 12:19 29th November 2012
APV1 says...
No comment:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20537967
Posted 12:14 29th November 2012
APV1 says...
Is that the best you've got?
Bring it on.
Posted 11:31 29th November 2012
Spartacus says...
Bad luck England - I would rather play against Hore than Mealamu!
Posted 11:23 29th November 2012
benski says...
@ PREEST.. Correct, I don't see England getting much of a look in against this super strong AB team although Clancy will level the pitch a bit in their favour by slowing the game down. Would love to see an England win but realistically that is pie in the sky.
Posted 10:51 29th November 2012
PREEST says...
I think England need to throw caution to the wind if they want a chance of winning. They need to be relentless. Any side that is passive, cautious, or timid against the ABs will not stand a chance. You need to play hard and fast and throw the ball around. The probably won't win, but I think England will be the ABs toughest opponent on this tour.
Posted 09:56 29th November 2012
Toulousain says...
That is basically a current world XV (not counting injured players like habana, genia and dusautoir). Maybe only 2, 4 and 6 might be swapped with say strauss, etzebeth and louw, but even that is debatable.
Can't see ABs losing, tired or not, but it might be closer than people think?
Scores broadly level at half time, then ABs to win by 10-15.
Posted 09:41 29th November 2012
heart_of_oak says...
If we lose by less than 30 points I will be surprised. I still think that we're gradually improving. We need to dispense with the rule preventing us from selecting foreign based players and we need somehow to give more encouragement to creative play. At the moment, for example, we extol the virtues of Brad Barritt's great defence and Owen Farrell's kicking. No doubt those are admirable qualities but there's more to the game than that.
Posted 09:27 29th November 2012
latin says...
i see england and wales winning this weekend, but that may just be wishful thinking
Posted 08:50 29th November 2012
Golden_statenba says...
Going to be interesting to see how Manu handles a good centre pairing.
From what I have seen from the last few games he us very one dimensional as a centre and I don't think his power will be affective against this AB side.
England should put him on the wing
Also England should be running loads of passing drills before this game.
Posted 08:42 29th November 2012
jmanngod says...
Dear oh dear ...Clancy as ref. Expect stop-start, whistle happy, scrum-clueless mess.
Posted 08:08 29th November 2012
chancer says...
I would accept a twenty point loss if England could achieve three tries, too much Mr Farrel (Defence) and not enough Mr Catt (Attack). You will never beat the NZ team by defending.
Posted 07:52 29th November 2012
AWEBLAX says...
That's not the ABs thats the A team, have to say it Goodluck England......
Posted 07:06 29th November 2012
Jediboy says...
I just can't see England having any chance against this ABs team. It's a class outfit. I just hope to see some positivity and some improvement.
Posted 07:01 29th November 2012