All Blacks XV unchanged for RWC final

New Zealand will rely on the same starting team who beat Australia as they attempt to end their Rugby World Cup title drought in Sunday’s final against France.

Coach Graham Henry made only one change in the 22-man squad on Friday – bringing Adam Thomson onto the bench at Victor Vito’s expense – for the Eden Park clash, where the All Blacks will attempt to win the William Webb Ellis Trophy for the first time since 1987.

Thomson has battled ankle and knee injuries throughout the tournament but has been passed fit this week.

Henry said the change was no reflection on fellow loose forward Vito but Thomson had greater experience in big Test matches.

“One of the guys has been there before, played big Test matches. The other one hasn’t had that experience very often,” he said.

Richie McCaw, playing his 103rd Test, will lead a starting team which has a combined 708 Test caps.

He will combine with Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino in the backrow for the 21st Test, an All Blacks record for a loose forward trio.

Keven Mealamu will earn his 92nd Test cap in the final, equalling the All Blacks’ record for a hooker set by 1987 World Cup winner Sean Fitzpatrick.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Mealamu said.

“Sean was my manager in the New Zealand under-20s.

“He was a great leader and a true professional and I’m pretty amazed to be able to play the same number of tests as him.”

Henry almost certainly named his last All Blacks team on Friday because he is expected to step down after Sunday’s final, ending his seven year tenure as New Zealand coach. Asked if that was the case, he replied: “Who knows?”

Henry said he believed the All Blacks had prepared well for Sunday’s match but “finals football” was a new experience for the current group of players.

“This is our 12th Test match in 14 weeks,” he said.

“I don’t think that has ever happened before so it’s pretty demanding, the constant rugby and the toll that takes on the body and the mind probably.

“We have to make sure we dovetail what we’re doing to that situation.

We can’t be over-physical at training and we haven’t been so we’ve just got to prepare accordingly because of the situation.

“Quite a few of the boys know they’ve played 12 Test matches in the last 14 weeks or will do after Sunday.”

Aaron Cruden was retained at flyhalf, starting back-to-back tests at No.10 after being drafted into the squad when star playmaker Dan Carter was ruled out with a tournament-ending groin injury.

The 22-year-old Cruden will be making his 9th Test appearance.

New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Richard Kahui, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Res: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Andy Ellis, Stephen Donald, Sonny Bill Williams.

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