All Blacks bring back the big guns
All Blacks coach Graham Henry wasted no time in bringing back all his big guns for the Tri-Nations decider against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.
The team, to be captain be regular skipper Richie McCaw, shows 13 changes from that which lost 5-18 to the Springboks in Port Elizabeth last week.
Only four players remain in the starting XV from last week – although two are in positions tweaks.
Veteran loose forward Adam Thomson moves from openside flank to blindside, to make room for the return of McCaw at openside.
Samuel Whitelock, who will partner Brad Thorn in the second row, was moved from a front-of-the-line-out jumper to the missed (wearing No.5 instead of No.4).
The only players that will feature in the same positions as last week are hooker Keven Mealamu (although he hands over the captaincy to McCaw) and loosehead prop Tony Woodcock.
The side includes 10 of the starting XV who featured in the 30-14 victory over the Wallabies in Auckland earlier this month, with McCaw returning to captain the side in his 98th Test.
Owen Franks returns to the front row alongside Woodcock and Mealamu. Thomson and McCaw will be partnered by No.8 Kieran Read in the loose forwards.
In the backs Piri Weepu gets the nod at scrumhalf, Daniel Carter is again in the No.10 jersey, the All Blacks most capped midfield Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith are reunited, with Nonu also joining Walter Little as the most capped All Blacks inside centre (45). Zac Guildford and Cory Jane will start on the wings, with Mils Muliaina at fullback.
“This is a tournament-defining match for the team,” Henry said.
“The winner wins the Tri-Nations, it’s as simple as that.
“Australia are a dangerous team to play and they will be looking to bounce back from the loss against us in Auckland, so we will have to play at our very best. It’s going to be a massive Test match.”
The All Blacks and Wallabies have played each other 141 times, with 96 wins to the All Blacks, 40 to Australia and five draws. The last Test at Suncorp Stadium was in 2008 when the All Blacks beat the Wallabies 28-24.
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Isaia Toeava.
Date: Saturday, August 28
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 20.05 AEST (10.05 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)
