Captain: Kieran Read
New Zealand have made 14 changes to their starting line-up that will face Italy in Rome on Saturday, with number eight Kieran Read named as skipper.
Read will lead the XV for the first time in his 46th Test. The 27-year-old made his All Blacks debut in 2008 and has started in 40 of his Tests, scoring seven tries in the black jersey. Centre Conrad Smith will be All Blacks vice-captain.
As flagged by the coaches, the squad of 23 has been selected on the basis of giving all members of the 32-man All Blacks squad game time in the opening two matches of the European Tour. The team is another strong, experienced one with 534 caps in the XV and a further 219 on the bench.
In the starting XV, the front-row is made up of the All Blacks most capped prop Tony Woodcock, Test centurion Keven Mealamu and 2012 newcomer Charlie Faumuina. At lock, Ali Williams gets a start after coming off the bench against Scotland last week and will link up with Brodie Retallick. Read will have Liam Messam alongside him further back at blindside and Sam Cane at openside.
Aaron Smith is partnered by Manawatu team-mate Aaron Cruden in the half-backs while the the All Blacks most experienced midfield pairing, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith, are back. In the outside backs Hosea Gear is on the right wing, Julian Savea gets a second tour Test start, with Beauden Barrett at 15.
Three players were not considered for selection due to injury - Ben Smith (cheek), Tamati Ellison (toe) and Israel Dagg (bruising).
"We were happy with our performance last weekend against Scotland but also knew there were areas for improvement ahead of the Italian Test and we have been working on getting that right this week," said head coach Steve Hansen.
"The team last week put a stake in the ground, and while the performance was nowhere near perfect, there was some quality rugby played. There is now an opportunity for this group to build on that.
"We are expecting another torrid Test against the Italians in front of their passionate fans. They are renowned for their forward play so they will certainly be up for the challenge and we will have to match that physicality. The team is excited about playing in front of the sold out crowd of 80-thousand and this will only add to their motivation."
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Victor Vito, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Dan Carter, 23 Cory Jane.
Date: Saturday, November 17
Kick-off: 15:00 local (14:00 GMT)
Venue: Stadio Olimpico
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Peter Allan (Scotland)
Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Comments
nzmaoriboy says...
@jaystarr- Famuina is playing Tighthead so he will be marking Italy's other prop. Woodcock NZ's most experienced prop (ever) will be marking the "Yeti" whom is Italys most experienced front rower. Should be a cracker! as both players are regarded as being right up there with the best in their respective positions.Though I am one of the many whom thinks Ali is living on borrowed time..it must be remembered that he has tons of experience! & before is injury run was regarded as one of the best locks in the world! Uncoordinated he is not! though he has had the dropsies in recent games. He is good in the air,excellent line out exponent, a very good scrummager (hence why i think he is named for this game) he will be locking on the tighthead side which is where your strongest lock plays of course (just in case u didn't know peeps)..What the fella needs to do is quit hanging on the wing and hit a lot more rucks like Retalick. Here's to a good game
Posted 07:15 16th November 2012
Lucasrg says...
No matter what, the All Blacks have a very good squad, probably much more quicker and dynamic then the previous one. Italy will have a rough day in defence as we don't have that speed to close in and disrupt the Kiwis backline.
With this set up, I would use Venditti (111kg) on Saeva for his extra pounds and try to test his defensive skills, if any I'm afraid!
Gori should start as 9 but Boats, being quicker, could start as well. Along this line I would use Mirco Bergamasco as 13 and young Iannone or even Benvenuti on the wing.
In the scrum, the All Blacks have a very quick backrow so I would use Favaro as 6 and Zanni 7, and sorry but I would go with Barbieri as 8. He's being immense in Pro 12.
NZ by 20....but, Forza Azzurri!
Posted 21:38 15th November 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Kiwidiver, largely agree with what you say but Hansen has given 9 guys debuts this year including 2 locks so despite Ali being horrible he has to weigh that against having another new guy in the squad. Dominic Bird was the obvious choice but that was only on the back of 1 decent NPC, Craig Clarke possibly, but he is getting on.. it really comes down to who else and whomever that maybe will be a debutant? I doubt he will be around next year though.
Barret is a class 15 and it wont hurt him to cover there if he is needed, Carter used to play 12 before shifting in and he turned out ok. Problem is centre cover, assume Ma'a will shift out one followed by Savea if Ma'a has to go off - which would be worth a look.
Posted 18:59 15th November 2012
LindsayG says...
What no Piri
Who is going to lead the Haka now???
Posted 17:39 15th November 2012
Kiwidiver says...
Why the animosity for Ali WIlliams?!? Where do I start!!! Snubbing his adoptive npc side some years back when both he and Brad Thorn were listed as Tasman players. The one chance they actually get to play in the NPC, Thorny does the right thing and fronts up, while Unco Williams decides to opt out....
...and yes, he is an uncoordinated git, who makes stupid mistakes. I bet if you were to add up the number of penalties he has cost NZ over the years, you'd be struggling to match that number with the number given away by the entire rest of the team!! He is NZ's answer to Dean Greyling.
I'm clearly not as gifted as the Henry's/Hanson's of this world when it comes to seeing the true value of a player, but I just don't understand why the guy keeps being given chances when he is clearly not learning from his mistakes. He has more lives than Weeps when it comes to selection.
Posted 16:16 15th November 2012
JayStarr says...
I think Charlie Faumuina might learn a scrumming lesson or two from Castrogiovani... But the rest of the team looks pretty good. Conrad Smith and Aaron Cruden will leave the Italians' heads spinning...
Posted 15:37 15th November 2012
DaveJ says...
14 changes and still an incredible team capable of beating any team on the planet with ease, SCARY!
Posted 15:02 15th November 2012
ferdie says...
agree with other posters re Beauden Barrett, has to avoid the curse of being seen as a utility back. he did play fullback for the U-20 side that won world champs in 2011, as Gareth Anscombe was considered a better 10 at that time. (by his father Mark Anscombe the coach, coincidence!)
Posted 14:06 15th November 2012
Trader2 says...
@Isograford
pathetic comment from someone who most probably never laced his boots up other than for a 5th grade school side, as against Williams who has played 76 Internationals and probably about 170 Super and NPC games over the years, and who at 31 has had the steel and guts to come back from some serious injuries to be picked for his 77th cap.
Supporters like you the game does not need. So slide off your sofa and get another beer, oh wait you probably yell at the wife to get one for you.
Posted 12:51 15th November 2012
markpat says...
I agree with rugby_phile that while Barrett can cover 15 from the bench, he shouldn't be starting tests there, a true 2nd choice fullback should be (although maybe it's because Ben Smith is injured?).
I'd have let Coles start as well and seen 60 minutes from him, personally. That would really see how he fares at international level against the Italians. Playing the last 20 agaisnt a tired Italian pack isn't quite the same.
Posted 12:50 15th November 2012
heathy says...
Jeeps, a new team with 14 changes and they would still beat everybody else. This is good player management as in fairness both teams have probably not been the first choice but a mixture of the two. The next game against Wales will see a third team again but this time it will be the first XV. Frightening really as the strength in depth is incredible and they just keep coming. Great side to watch though and I was going to cream my pants on the Cory Jane's try. They really are a class apart. I just hope England can give them a test (as I fear Wales will capitulate).
Posted 12:12 15th November 2012
masar says...
stil an awesome line up... but i dont like this rotation policy, didnt help at all at rwc 07
Posted 11:48 15th November 2012
carpelone says...
No more Old Blacks. Awesome team, potentially devastating. Cruden has an average 4 Nations, let's see if he can step up at Test level.
Posted 11:36 15th November 2012
Euskadi says...
What other team could change 14 starters and still expect to demolish the opposition?
Posted 11:34 15th November 2012
fattysock says...
@Rugby_Phile
I tend to agree in the long run. However, better to get him out there playing (even at 15) than on the bench I think. Plus I'm sure B Smith would have been there if he wasn't crocked... so pretty easy for Hansen to say somethign like "We see you as a 10, but it doesn't hurt of you to be capable at 15 as well".
With DC on the bench, will be interesting to see what they do at the 50-60min mark (assuming all is going well!).
Posted 10:34 15th November 2012
tha_mai says...
good use of the full squad - an all auckland front row (2012 version, Woodcock south next yr) will be tough v Italy's f-r. 8 hurricanes by my count.
Won't be easy, and i doubt a high score from either side.
Posted 10:10 15th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Why the disrespect for Ali Williams? Martin Johnson struggled against him.
Looked at this 15 expecting to find holes with 14 players out but it looks better than last weeks!
Posted 09:56 15th November 2012
Rolf says...
DEPTH.
Posted 08:39 15th November 2012
thedan1000 says...
14 changes and still an awesome line up...
Posted 07:55 15th November 2012
ChiefDC says...
Haha! 3 big men in the backline
Posted 07:53 15th November 2012