Champion playmaker Dan Carter has again been forced by injury to miss an All Blacks Test against France, conceding the No.10 jersey to Aaron Cruden for Saturday’s first Test at Eden Park.
Carter suffered a cracked bone in his hand during a Super Rugby match last weekend and has been omitted from the All Blacks’ side named for the first clash between the teams since New Zealand’s 8-7 win in the 2011 World Cup final on the same ground.
A groin injury forced Carter to miss that match.
The All Blacks line-up named by coach Steve Hansen on Thursday includes two uncapped players on the bench – Hurricanes lock Jeremy Thrush and Chiefs prop Ben Afeaki.
Huuricanes hooker Dane Coles has been awarded his first Test start, ahead of veterans Keven Mealamu and Andrew Hore, with Mealamu named as reserve.
Utility back Ben Smith was named on the right wing, allowing the selectors to play the out-of-form Israel Dagg at fullback.
The line-up is notable for the number of players chosen despite poor form during the Super Rugby season.
Cruden will play outside halfback Aaron Smith and inside centre Ma’a Nonu, both of whom have struggled with the last-placed Highlanders.
Nonu will play his 77th test, renewing his long-standing centre combination with 66-Test veteran Conrad Smith, to provide the nucleus of a backline that is otherwise light on experience.
No.8 Kieran Read captains the team in the absence of Richie McCaw, who is taking a “sabbatical” from top rugby and won’t return until the Rugby Championships in August. Sam Cane will start in McCaw’s place on the openside flank.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow is the halfback reserve in place of Piri Weepu who has a concussion while Beauden Barrett will understudy Cruden.
Dynamic Blues centre Rene Ranger could play his first Test in three years if he gets a call from the bench.
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (capt), Sam Kane, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crocket. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Ben Afeaki, Jeremy Thrush, Victor Vito, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Rene Ranger.
France: Yoann Huget, Adrien Plante, Florian Fritz, Wesley Fofana, Maxime Medard, Camille Lopez, Maxime Machenaud, Louis Picamoles, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Yoann Maestri, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Luc Ducalcon, Dimitri Szarzewski, Thomas Domingo. Reserves: Guilhem Guirado, Vincent Debaty, Daniel Kotze, Alexandre Flanquart, Yannick Nyanga, Jean-Marc Doussain, Frederic Michalak, Maxime Mermoz.
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