Cane to lead All Blacks into battle
Cane will be the 67th player to captain the All Blacks in a Test and at 23 years and eight months old will be the fifth youngest All Blacks captain ever.
Richie McCaw was the previous fifth youngest captain, aged 23 years 10 months when he captained the team for the first time in November 2004.
The youngest All Blacks Test captain was Canterbury flyhalf Herbie Lilburne, who was 21 years three months old when he captained the All Blacks in 1929.
"It's a very special moment for 23-year-old Sam [Cane]," All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.
"He's in our leadership group, is hugely respected by everyone, is a fierce and fearless player and is someone who has the potential of being a long-term captain of the All Blacks in the future."
Hansen said it was also a fantastic opportunity for those players not selected for the opening Test to get game time.
"At the completion of this match, 30 of the 31 players in our squad will have experienced time in the middle of the park – which will give us a good foundation base going forward and which was always part of our planning pre-Tournament.
"It's now their time to step up.
"Five of our team will also be playing their first World Cup match so it'll be a significant moment for them and their families as well."
Hansen added: "The Namibian players will be excited by it too and it will be a great occasion at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday."
The All Blacks starting XV for the Namibia Test has an average age of 26 and there are 1,061 Test caps in the matchday 23.
The five All Blacks marking their first RWC appearance are Codie Taylor, Luke Romano, Liam Messam, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Malakai Fekitoa.
New Zealand: 15 Colin Slade, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Tony Woodcock, 19 Kieran Read, 20 Richie McCaw, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Ma'a Nonu, 23 Ben Smith.
Date: Thursday, September 24
Venue: Olympic Park, London
Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 GMT; 21.00 Namibian time; 06.00 Friday, September 25 NZ time)
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
