Naholo named for All Black debut

Try-scoring machine Waisake Naholo will make his All Black debut in the opening match of the Rugby Championship against Argentina in Christchurch on Friday.

The match will also see celebrated centurions Richie McCaw and Dan Carter making their final appearance before their home crowd.

It's another hugely experienced All Black team, with prop Tony Woodcock to make his 100th Test start in his outstanding career.

The matchday 23 boasts 1,068 caps worth of experience and an average age of 28 years.

The inclusion of the Fijian flyer, Naholo, is one of six changes to the All Blacks squad that scrambled to a 25-16 win in their season opener against Samoa a week ago.

Another new All Black, hooker Codie Taylor, is set to make his first appearance off the bench.

Naholo, who blossomed with the Highlanders this year, was the leading try-scorer in Super Rugby, touching down 13 times.

He comes in for George Moala on the right wing – as coach Steve Hansen calls up four of the 17 squad members who featured in the Super Rugby Final between the Highlanders and Hurricanes.

Senior All Blacks from that Final, including Ben and Conrad Smith, are getting further time to recover before being introduced to the All Blacks limited World Cup build up.

"We have a lot of respect for Argentina and what they bring and understand that we will have to improve our game quite considerably from our Samoan effort," Hansen said.

"With that in mind, the selectors did not want to make too many changes.

"It's a fine balancing act between getting game time for those who need it, giving others the rest they may need, and giving ourselves an opportunity to see players and combinations in the heat of the Test battle so we can make good selections going forward."

Other changes to the All Blacks see lock Brodie Retallick replace Sam Whitelock, TJ Perenara comes in at scrumhalf with Andy Ellis dropping to the bench, Ma'a Nonu starts at outside centre and is paired with Sonny Bill Williams in the midfield, while Liam Messam is added to the reserves for Matt Todd.

For two of the all-time great All Blacks, McCaw and Carter, it will be an emotional farewell appearance before their home crowd in Christchurch – with Carter moving to France after the World Cup later this year and McCaw set to retire.

"I guess there will be a few emotions," Carter said.

"I love playing in Christchurch. Every time I play there in the black jersey it just means something special."

Hansen said the team would discuss how to cope with the emotional outing for McCaw in his 139th Test and Carter playing his 103rd.

"As a group we have to sit and around and ask 'how are we going to deal with this, boys?'. Are we going to embrace it and make it work for us or  is it going to be something to carry around like a sack of coal on our backs that becomes a burden?

"We are very much looking forward to our Friday Test against an improving Argentinian team.

"There has been a lot of talk about the Rugby World Cup and so forth, but this Test match is all about the here and now.

"It's important that we get away to a really good start in the Rugby Championship as we will only be playing each other once this year and we only have this one home game.

"We will need to get points early if we are going to give ourselves a chance of winning the Championship.

"We know the Argentinians will be big and fast and bring a physicality to the contest. But we are also expecting them to bring some panache through their backs as we have detected a greater desire from them to involve their whole team in their game.

"It will be a special occasion for all the Christchurch men in the group playing in front of their home crowd and I know they are all looking to put in a big performance."

Meanwhile, All Black scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow and prop Joe Moody have again been released to play for the Maori All Blacks and Cory Jane for the New Zealand Barbarians in the match between the two sides in Auckland on Saturday.

The All Blacks and Argentina have played each other 20 times, with the All Blacks recording 19 wins and a draw.

The two sides will next meet in their opening match of the World Cup starting in England in September.

New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Ma'a Nonu, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Liam Messam, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Ryan Crotty.

Date: Friday, July 17

Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch

Kick-off: 19.35 (04.35 Argentina time; 07.35 GMT)

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Stuart Berry (South Africa)

TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)