Moala named for All Black debut
George Moala is set to make his All Black debut when New Zealand meet Samoa in a historic one-off Test in Apia on Wednesday.
Moala is the only uncapped player in the starting XV.
Three more uncapped players have been named on the replacement bench – with prop Nepo Laulala, scrumhalf Brad Weber and midfielder Charlie Ngatai all in line for their first test appearances.
The starting XV features a wealth of experience in the forward pack, with 648 Test caps up front – courtesy of a front row of Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu and Owen Franks; locks Sam Whitelock and Luke Romano; and the familiar loose forward trio of Jerome Kaino, captain Richie McCaw and Kieran Read.
There are a further 224 Test caps in the starting backline, with scrumhalf Andy Ellis returning to the All Blacks for the first time since 2011; Daniel Carter is at flyhalf, with Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty in the midfield.
Moala is on the right wing, Charles Piutau is on the left and Israel Dagg is at fullback.
On the bench, hooker Hikawera Elliot continues his remarkable comeback after last playing for the All Blacks in 2012 and undergoing neck surgery in 2013.
Wyatt Crockett joins Laulala as prop cover, while Brodie Retallick will provide lock cover.
Another returning All Black, Matt Todd, is loose forward reserve.
In the backs, Colin Slade joins Weber and Ngatai as backs reserves.
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said the team was excited by the numerous challenges that the Test against Samoa will pose.
"It's exciting for the group to be playing this first ever All Blacks Test in Samoa and we know it's going to be a special occasion," Hansen said.
"The Samoans will be incredibly physical and keen to put in a huge performance in front of their fans and we will have to play with high intensity and accuracy with plenty of physicality.
"We have had a good build-up this week and, with it being a new season and our first Test of the year, we have tried to keep things as simple as possible and now looking forward to getting our season underway."
* Meanwhile, All Blacks scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow and prop Joe Moody have been released to play for the Maori All Blacks, who will take on Fiji in Suva on Saturday, July 11.
The remaining All Blacks squad members, except loose forward Sam Cane, who shouldered a heavy Super Rugby workload, will travel to Samoa.
The All Blacks and Samoa have played each other five times since 1993 and this is the first Test to be played in Apia.
The last Test was on 3 September 2008 in New Plymouth.
Current All Blacks who played in that match include Tony Woodcock, Jerome Kaino and Daniel Carter.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 George Moala, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Hikawera Elliot, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Brodie Retallick, 20 Matt Todd, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Charlie Ngatai.
Date: Wednesday, July 8
Venue: Apia Park, Apia
Kick-off: 15.00 (14.00 NZ time; 02.00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
