Fumbling All Blacks' shot at redemption
They have formulated their own version of a tandem attack at the breakdown.
Victor Vito will be in the No.6 on Saturday, with Sam Whitelock restored at lock – while in the backs Ma'a Nonu returns for the injured Sonny Bill Williams.
Teaming the athletic Vito with Richie McCaw should bolster the All Blacks' speed to the collision area, where they were soundly beaten by Australia's terriers David Pocock and Michael Hooper in the Rugby Championship decider.
Whitelock returns as the senior lock to give more drive over the ball as the All Blacks fight to retain the Bledisloe Cup which Australia last held in 2002.
Apart from sharpening that area, coach Steve Hansen has backed the notion that the bulk of his side beaten 27-19 last weekend deserve a shot at redemption.
But he has made clear there needs to be a commanding performance in the All Blacks' last home game before the World Cup and to celebrate McCaw breaking the World record for the most Test matches in his 142nd international.
"This game is one of the best challenges we could have. We pride ourselves on our performance and last week's wasn't good enough, so we have been working hard at all areas of our game," Hansen said.
"We know we have to be smarter, more accurate and bring more intensity right across the park."
"It's also our last Test match in New Zealand for the year, so it's important that we deliver a performance that we can be proud of in front of our home fans.
"Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity on behalf of myself and the All Blacks to publicly acknowledge Richie's achievement in becoming the most capped Test player in the history of the game.
"His performances week in, week out in the black jersey have been nothing short of extraordinary."
More will be expected of halfbacks Aaron Smith and Dan Carter after the All Blacks' backline struggled to fire last week.
Part of the problem was predictable moves of heavyweight forwards stationed in the midfield and it remains to be seen if that plan will persevere.
The inclusion of Vito at the expense of hardman Jerome Kaino should give the All Blacks better presence at the breakdown.
It is a straight swap of Kaino's power for the mobility of Vito whose all-round skills stem from his days as a formidable sevens player where he was touted as the next Jonah Lomu.
Kaino is included on a rejigged reserves bench where Keven Mealamu and Wyatt Crockett replace Codie Taylor and Ben Franks, while Colin Slade comes in for Beauden Barrett.
For the All Blacks farewell performance before they head to England to defend their world crown "it's important that we deliver a performance that we can be proud of in front of our home fans," Hansen said.
The All Blacks and Australia have played each other 153 times, with the All Blacks winning 104 times and the Wallabies 42, with seven draws.
Daniel Carter will start his 88th Test match at flyhalf to equal the world record holder, Steven Jones of Wales.
Carter also surpassed the 1,500 Test points milestone last weekend.
Meanwhile a number of All Blacks squad members have been released to play for their respective provincial unions in the opening round of the NPC this weekend – Cory Jane and James Broadhurst (Wellington v Taranaki on Saturday), and Matt Todd and Patrick Osborne (Canterbury v Otago).
New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Victor Vito, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jerome Kaino, 20 Sam Cane, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Malakai Fekitoa.
Date: Saturday, August 15
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.35 (17.35 AEST; 07.35 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
