McCaw's move a double bluff?
All Black captain Richie McCaw will start at blindside flank against Scotland on Saturday, a temporary move according to coach Steve Hansen – or is it?
The surprise shake-up of the New Zealand team for the third match on their year-end tour also has hooker James Parsons making his Test debut – as only 12 players survive from the 23 involved in last weekend's 24-21 win over England at Twickenham.
Parsons, along with utility back Colin Slade and lock Dominic Bird who are also in the run-on side to play Scotland, were not in the original touring party.
However, Hansen rejected any talk of an under-strength side.
"Though we have made changes to our team, there is an expectation that those who fill the jersey will deliver quality performances," he said when announcing the team.
For the 135-Test veteran McCaw, widely acclaimed in his prime as the world's best openside flank, this will be the first time he has started a Test in the No.6 jersey – although he has previously played at the back of the scrum, No.8.
He moves to the more defensive role to make way for his openside understudy Sam Cane, with Victor Vito at No.8 – to give the All Blacks more mobility than the established loose trio of McCaw, Jerome Kaino and Kieran Read.
"Am I thinking about turning Richie into a No.6? No," he said.
"But it would be nice to see if they can work together, with Richie as a No.6 from time to time, because that might be what we have to roll with if Sam [Cane] is the replacement loose forward."
"[If that happens] we either have to take Richie off, or he has to go to No.6," Hansen said.
"This is a chance to start, and have some planning and training time to grow and see how the combination goes. But we've got no long-term thoughts of moving Richie to No.6.
Hansen said there is also a tactical element to the combination, as he expects Scotland to attempt an expansive early approach.
He has countered that by naming two effective ruck scavengers.
"We want to put as much pressure on them at the breakdown as we can," the coach said.
"Those two guys are both good at getting over the ball."
Hansen said ideally McCaw would not have to play deep into the Test, with Messam likely to replace him at some point.
Of the 15 who started against England, only McCaw and Ben Smith will start again and even Smith has to change position, moving from wing to fullback in place of Israel Dagg.
Kaino and locks Patrick Fekitoa and Brodie Retallick were not considered due to injury, while centre Conrad Smith has returned home for family reasons.
In Smith's absence there is a new-look back combination with Ryan Crotty and Malakai Fekitoa paired in the centres while Slade, who kicked the winning goal as flyhalf against Australia last month, joins Charles Piutau on the wing.
Dan Carter, the world's leading Test points scorer, joins TJ Perenara in the halfback combination and will start his 102nd Test, wearing the All Black No.10 jersey for the first time this year.
After sitting out the June Test series against England, he missed the Rugby Championship because of injury, before returning to play 30 minutes off the bench against the United States two weeks ago.
"We have a lot of respect for the Scots and, like all Northern Hemisphere teams, know that they will bring a lot of physicality to the park," Hansen said.
"However, we also expect them to want to move the ball, particularly from any turnovers or free kicks. That style certainly suited them last week and makes them, we believe, even more dangerous."
