Richie McCaw: Back to lead NZ
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has named a hugely experienced and in-form side for this weekend's Test outing with Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
There are 745 caps in New Zealand's starting XV and 140 on their eight-man bench.
Nine changes have been made to last week's starting side in Rome, where the world champions left with a 42-10 win.
As expected, Richie McCaw regains the captaincy from Kieran Read after having a weeks rest with Liam Messam remaining the premier blindside flank.
Tony Woodcock, Owen Franks and hooker Andrew Hore make up the front row, while Luke Romano is the preferred locking partner for Sam Whitelock in the second row.
In the backs, Aaron Smith holds off Piri Weepu push for the number nine jersey, Dan Carter returns at fly-half with the All Blacks most successful centre pairing of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith retained in the midfield.
On the wings, Julian Savea gets his third successive start on tour and will combine with wing Cory Jane and full-back Israel Dagg in the back three.
Grand Slam champions in the Six Nations earlier this year, Wales have lost their last five Tests and not beaten the All Blacks since 1953.
"We have always known this game will be a fiercely contested match," said Hansen.
"We have known since the World Cup that this would be the game that they would be targeting in this series, so any recent performances or results won't have any bearing on this match.
"We are all excited by what comes with this challenge, along with the fact that we will be playing in one of the world's greatest rugby stadiums."
The world champions are unbeaten for 19 Tests going back to last year's loss to Australia in Brisbane.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock. Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Brodie Retallick, 20 Victor Vito, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Ben Smith.
Date: Saturday, November 24
Kick-off: 17:15 GMT
Venue: Millennium Stadium
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garces, Greg Garner (England)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Comments
Ruckingkiwi says...
We're always looking over our shoulder Carpelone, always!
And no, NZ were much more fearful of facing Australia in that semi, as recent results can only suggest! But you guys tend to believe what you want anyway, so be it.
Posted 19:06 24th November 2012
Ruckingkiwi says...
We're always looking over our shoulder Carpelone, always!
And no, NZ were much more fearful of facing Australia in that semi, as recent results can only suggest! But you guys tend to believe what you want anyway, so be it.
Posted 19:06 24th November 2012
WorldWary says...
Ferdie
I couldn't agree with you more. Renee was actually they name I was trying to think of.
Personally I hate to see black adder there but I'd put considerable money on him having a better shot at the job than Gatland. Let's not forget he is in charge of the crusaders machine for the next 3 years.
I'm interested to see what both Hammet and Kirwin achieve in that time period too. Hammet has free reign so he needs to achieve results by his methods. Kirin doesn't have the team around him yet that he either wants or needs but if Auckland can get on board with him it might be interesting...let's not forget he's coached both Japan and Italy do he has the resume.
Umaga I'm not sure about...I don't doubt he has developed a lot but the reality is he will probably serve out an assistant coaches role in 2015 if there is a change.
Joseph is a good call. I forgot about him but quite frankly what he's done with the highlanders outfit is nothing short of a miracle.
You have to think almost any combination of this 5 would do a brilliant job...let's face it, Gatland and Deans just aren't, weren't...and never will be good enough.
Posted 09:29 24th November 2012
carpelone says...
As far as Rico is concerned, I used to be a huge fan of him. Less powerful, but classier than Hosea.
I would have expected a longer career form him in black. I can't remember if he picked any injuries, but I expected him to be in France 2007 and playing.
Posted 08:41 24th November 2012
carpelone says...
Ruckingkiwi, we are always ready to take on New Zealand, particularly in 2011 when it was arranged for the Boks not to be in the semi by one of your fellow countrymen. Maybe at that time I felt you were not so eager to meet the Boks, even with PdV at the helm.
Seriously now, experience is certainly a factor and central management of players is even a more important reason for New Zealand recent success. Player management requires strategy and clever rugby brains, so it is a compliment indeed. We consistently fail to field what we think it is the best team, for one reason or another and at the end, you have to play who is in front of you. Fitness and conditioning are also important.
Finally, mind your back, lad. The boys become eventually men and you have seen already what they are capable in Soweto.
Posted 08:15 24th November 2012
ferdie says...
WorldWary - my long-term coaching panle would inclkude Tana Umaga, Jamie Joseph, Dave Rennie as well as Kirwan. Scrap Blackadder, he's a trier but I don't believe he has what it takes at that level, Hammett not enough exp, yet.
Hansen's contract is up for review 2013, but this doesn't mean it gets advertised or is contestable if NZRU are satisfied with performance..
Posted 23:25 23rd November 2012
Ruckingkiwi says...
Carpelone, the clear advantage now is experience and the fact our team is full of men nowadays and not boys, the results speak for itself.
Agree, well done in 2009. I wouldn't say we were rebuilding, 2008 was more a concern after everyone left. We were just poor against the constant kicking in 2009, and didnt play the negative ruck laws very well ...not that we had much say in changing the laws but you believe what you want.
So have all our main rivals all been rebuilding since 2009? Maybe you could let us know when you're ready to play. The way I see things, the results aren't a great deal different from the norm.
And what's Rico got to do with this?
Posted 18:22 23rd November 2012
Ramage says...
Funny how no referee wants toi be thought of as an Aussie. Well John O.Neill has seen to it as he has run Australian Rugby into the pits, including its referees. They have to rely on an expat NZer to get any recognition. No wonder Joubert as you put it, Trinuts, wants to be a NZer .He knows a good thing when he sees it. After all he wouldnt want to be associated with Trinuts,his South African half brother bok avenger, or overstayer georgesmith.
Posted 13:57 23rd November 2012
WorldWary says...
Tuffnut
Really...Hansen v Gatland for 2015 coach?!? You are dreaming right? There's a reason Gatland isn't (and never has been) wanted for higher honours in NZ and that is because he is a one trick pony.
No team he has ever coached has gone on to a second season of success...teams work him out, be it his borderline (read offside) rush defence with Waikato or the non changing of tactic since before the world cup...please read samoas comments on this and how they managed to take Wales apart based on over a year of observations.
Z
Garland offers nothing at an international level (or any level) except the ability to introduce a style of play that may win a series and then condem that team to being picked apart....should be perfect for the lions...
Garland will NEVER be All Blacks coach...he won't even be a glint in the milkmans eye of consideration. I'd start thinking, Blackadder, Hammet and maybe Kirwin if I was you.
Posted 11:06 23rd November 2012
carpelone says...
Ruckingkiwi.
In 2009 you were rebuilding and you got quite smashed by the Boks, before changing the rules.....
Re Gears, not to mention Rico.
Re 2003, different rugby, I agree. Those back 3 and that back row were phenomenal, superior to the current. 2nd row undoubtedly better 2003, front row the same, centers the same (even though I rate Smith the most intelligent center around), the only clear advantage of the current team is in the halfbacks (because of Dan Carter).
Dan Carter is making the difference between New Zealand and the others, when Cruden plays, everything becomes a lot scrappier.
Posted 08:37 23rd November 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Carpelone, by that reckoning our biggest rivals must always be rebuilding...?
It's easy to forget NZ have introduced 9 new caps this year as well.
2003 team - though a good team with a couple record romps away from home, the laws at the time contributed to a much different game. Nowadays no team (except NZ) has the consistency England had back then but across the board the competition has improved remarkably. Argentina are a top side now, Wales are winning slams again, the traditional powerhouses still rule, it's a much more even playing field.
On Gear - I'm a huge fan, am friends of friends so to speak and have met the guy and he's a top man... and think when he's in top form that no one is better but at this point Savea is in better form and is scoring tries, someone reckons 10 in 7 tests this year, hard to argue against that.
But equally stoked that Hosea has stayed in NZ and has made the team for large parts of the season, gutted for him he didn't play a larger part in the WC last year, after a breakthrough 2010 season I thought 2011 would have been his year but sadly not.
Posted 23:42 22nd November 2012
damo says...
Hope the Welsh play like the can Davies back is prob their best player come on Wales
Posted 22:42 22nd November 2012
wfgwoody says...
AB's have the worlds best 7,8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15. How are the wales surpose to compete? Maybe at 100 degrees below.
Posted 22:16 22nd November 2012
carpelone says...
Ruckingkiwi.
My impression was that they did not want to expose Savea to the SA's kicking game in Soweto. At the moment, I would pick Gear over Savea any time, in future things may change.
Posted 21:55 22nd November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Saving Carter for Twickers... They've done the analysis on Wales chances and decided to start work early on the England game starting with cotton wool for Dan.
Posted 21:40 22nd November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
@bokavenger: see if you can catch up with trinuts
Posted 21:17 22nd November 2012
davodiablo says...
@Carpelone ....I think the 2003 ABs were still to learn a few hard lessons about knockout rugby . Being able to adapt to the game is the the difference with the current ABs.
I'm expecting Wales to come out firing on Saturday . Can't wait .
Posted 20:31 22nd November 2012
BokAvenger says...
@Trinuts: that's the first intelligent thing you've ever posted on these forums
Posted 19:37 22nd November 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Actually Carpelone, the All Blacks named this exact team, their top team, for the Argentina match in La Plata as this was seen as the biggest challenge of the RC and only after the pressure was off they changed a couple (Gear and Retallick) for the South Africa match, as luckily the competition had been won by then.
Posted 19:33 22nd November 2012
mfbLions says...
come on wales!!! i think ABs will win comfortably against wales tho
Posted 19:19 22nd November 2012