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
brands says...
@ carpelone
arrogent sentance? please explain?
Posted 19:04 22nd November 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Good team, no surprises.
Posted 18:58 22nd November 2012
paulynz says...
@Ramage
Try not to take too much notice of georgesmith. He's obviously a little "touched".
Posted 18:41 22nd November 2012
paulynz says...
Apologies to the Welsh for brands. We're not all like him.
As others have said, the ABs will lose sometime and like Trader2 says when that does happen it would be great if it could be against Wales.
Maybe not this weekend though...
Posted 18:33 22nd November 2012
gn100 says...
Looks like Dan Carter is injured, so the All Blacks might not be at full strength.
Looking forward to a great game - I believe that Wales will rise to the occasion - I have this suspicion that they have been thinking too much about this game recently and haven't paid attention to their other recent opponents.
Posted 18:20 22nd November 2012
Golden_statenba says...
Looks like Carter is hurt
Oh dear game on!
Posted 17:37 22nd November 2012
APV1 says...
I'm off to Cardiff to watch this on Saturday. Dropping the kids with my parents on Friday night and making a proper weekend of it.
Does anyone know whether the roof will be open or closed? I need to know whether to wear my pink tu-tu and lime-green mankini, or my leopard-skin onesie.
Posted 17:05 22nd November 2012
Rosbif says...
@GCP, no worries mon ami, as I said, few non-French devotees would remember the 20-20 game in Paris, fewer still the kick that cleared the crossbar!!
@Ramage, totally agree with you, the whole georgesmith negativity thing starts to grate after a while. the best medicine would be to plonk him on a rugby pitch with messrs n. sharpe and r. mccaw and see how he gets on......only hope someone has a camera.....
@carpelone, interesting debate, and it rather proves the point of how many good wingers there are in NZ. what other nation would not have Gear in their side? a bit like when Sivivatu didn't make the RWC squad....
@PR - a lot of other press are leading with the story that Adam Thompson was not considered for selection, despite being available (technically). Don't the AB set-up deserve some kudos for this? OK, they are lucky that Vito happens to be as good if not better.... but the IRB can't rely on that, surely? Most other teams would be stuck in limbo given the IRB's handling of the whole issue. Is this not another example of "Trial by Twitter"?
Posted 16:43 22nd November 2012
carpelone says...
I loved New Zealand 2003 team, entertaining and powerful.
Only the unfortunate (from a Kiwi point of view) tackle on Spencer and Umaga by Masi prevented them at least to play the final with England.
I think that that side is far superior than this. They may be winning more but only because their biggest rivals are rebuilding.
I would love to hear from you all, friends from New Zealand.
Posted 16:10 22nd November 2012
carpelone says...
ferdie
I like Savea, but I rate Gear too. I feel that Savea is still a tad monodimensional, while Gear is quite a pain in the ass with ball in hand. I am not saying that Savea will not overcome him, in a near future.
Do not forget that Gear was picked ahead of Savea for Soweto, quite rightly imo.
Cheers
Posted 13:52 22nd November 2012
quins_hooker says...
What a powerful looking AB side. The best that I can recall since the 1996 side with Fitzy, Zinzan, Michael Jones, a young Josh Kronfeld, Mehrtens, Carlos, Frank Bunce, Walter Little, Lomu, etc. They annhilated the competition in the Tri-Nations and, I think the went undefeated on their tour to SA.
Posted 13:48 22nd November 2012
Trader2 says...
While never wanting the AB's to lose, history beckons for the Welsh team, if they win they will all be knighted, hangon cannot see the Poms welcoming 23 Welsh Knights into the fold all in one go.
As someone has said on this story the AB's have to lose sometime and well, I would have to say (reluctantly) I would prefer it to be Wales. Two great Welsh friends of mine who sadly passed away in the last 18 months would have a smile on their faces from their lofty perch and I would like to see that. However before they roll over laughing in their graves at how soft I have become, it is not going to happen this weekend boy's. AB's by 23.
Posted 13:42 22nd November 2012
GCP_jones says...
@Rosbif ...
To clarify i was talkin about the 20-20 draw, how could I have forgotten that QF in 07. A truly wonderful spectacle.
Posted 13:37 22nd November 2012
Philly says...
Whats that on Richie's top lip? "Mo" vember?
Posted 12:41 22nd November 2012
rustytrumpet says...
As a welshman all i can say is 2 words - Oh dear !
all i can hope is that it reasonably close to make it a good rugby spectacle.
will do neither team any good is a real pasting is handed out.
I just wanna see good running rugby that is reffed intelligently.
I'm not gonna spout about the result, but we've been hopeing for years. and will continue to do so, i think.
Posted 12:30 22nd November 2012
GCP_jones says...
@Rosbif ...
apologies for excluding that result (was'nt aware of it to be honest). I would have loved to see France play New Zealand this year, Les Blues really have their game face on, this Saturdays match with Samoa will be a belter.
I think Wales will raise their game , but I just can't see beyond the Men In Black.
Posted 12:30 22nd November 2012
Ramage says...
What an idiot this georgesmoith is. All he can do is week after week spit out his bile and hatred, not only of his own country's fine players, but now he has also
stooped deep into the gutter with his comments here. This apology for a man, can
only sit at his keynboard and spit out his vile attacks on many fine players who bring thousands of real rugby fans much joy. Take your pathetic comments and go elsewhere you dispicable toad as you will never even come near being even one quarter as good as men such as Nathan Sharpe and Richie McCaw.
Posted 12:27 22nd November 2012
Rosbif says...
GCP, apart from the famous QF in Cardiff, but I see where you're coming from....
Incidentally, we French still remember the penalty kick that went over the bar (but was not given, or referred to the TMO, since there wasn't one) in the 20-20 draw in Paris ten years ago.....but then again, I wouldn't expect anyone, other than a die-hard French fan, to remember that one!!
Good luck this weekend to both teams. Really looking forward to this one :-)
Posted 12:00 22nd November 2012
Trinats2 says...
All the best Kiwis returning, including Craig Joubert.
Posted 11:56 22nd November 2012
ferdie says...
Carpelone - why leave Savea out?
"Julian Savea is the leading international try scorer this year with 10 tries from 7 tests"
OK for a player in his first season, and as I like to mention, 3 more and he equals the Qantas Wallabies team season total, and they've had six more tests.
Posted 11:37 22nd November 2012