Coach Graham Henry has gone for Ma’a Nonu over Sonny Bill Williams as his starting inside centre for the All Blacks’ opening Tri Nations Test against the Springboks on Saturday.
Williams has been named on the reserves bench and is still likely to make his first Test appearance on New Zealand soil when the All Blacks tackle the depleted Springboks in Wellington.
After a weak finish to the Super Rugby season, Williams needs a series of strong performances to have any chance of being included in New Zealand’s starting line-up at the World Cup kicking off in September.
Flyhalf Dan Carter has been named to start in one of four changes to the team that beat Fiji 60-14 last week.
Despite the selection of the 80-Test international, who is poised to overtake England’s Jonny Wilkinson as Test rugby’s leading pointscorer, the All Blacks remain below full strength.
Several frontline players are either injured or being rested after long Super 15 campaigns and with only four tests remaining before the opening match of this year’s World Cup, New Zealand have yet to identify their strongest line-up.
Carter came off the bench in the final 20 minutes of New Zealand’s win over Fiji, converting three tries to lift his career points tally to 1,194 points, one point behind Wilkinson’s record.
In other changes, Sam Whitelock will start at lock in place of Jarrad Hoeata, who moves to the bench and Jerome Kaino returns on the blindside flank.
Adam Thomson moves from the side of the scrum to No.8, forcing Liam Messam to the bench.
Cory Jane has recovered from a compound dislocation of the finger and will start on the right wing while Zac Guildford will move to the left wing in place of Sitiveni Sivivatu.
South Africa left 21 topline players at home, reportedly to recuperate from injuries, and have since lost three other players to injury, including fullback Gio Aplon.
“They are a proud rugby nation and won’t want a repeat performance so we will have to be ready for that challenge,” Henry said. “But we have had a good build-up this week and have picked a team we know that will be up for that challenge.”
New Zealand will be without outside centre Richard Kahui, who has a hamstring injury, prop Tony Woodcock with an injured foot, utility back Isaia Toeava, winger Hosea Gear and fullback Israel Dagg.
The All Blacks and Springboks have played 81 times with New Zealand winning 45 and South Africa 33.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Janes, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Adam Thomson, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Jarrad Hoeata, Liam Messam, Piri Weepu, Colin Slade, Sonny Bill Williams.
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