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.
paul aiolupotea
Guest
i really enjoyed SBW play it like his boxing match i enjoy watching him passed the ball
soapit
Guest
so he was the best until he stopped playing well? goes for a lot of people. lomu's not the best winger in the world anymore. i dont think he ever was the best though.
Kiwi Ben
Guest
Does the name Conrad Smith ring a bell anyone he is the other guy in the centre and has been for some time now. Together with Nonu they have a great combination that is proven and Henry and co have built them over a few years now sbw has been on a end of year tour. Conrad is an smart midfield man that makes good calls and his mate Nonu is still one of the best runners in the game.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Didn't they try to convince us that AAC was the best centre in the world last year? Until his form fell off a cliff.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
He has looked world class at times, and at other times just average, much like other young stars. I just think all this hype over guys who have barely proved anything on the rugby field get a bit much at times. Before you know it players will start to talk about their 'brand'... Oh wait
Damo
Guest
Jiggles gotta differ with you here. It's perfectly appropriate that he is in the news. At his best with good support he has looked world class at times this year. Though OZ tactics will work to limit him and other NZ centres, his selection on the bench is just as threatening as if he was running on. I strongly doubt that he has been 'dropped'. Henry is just testing some 'old guard' as other coaches do to define a squad. If he is in the team and NZ make the final, my prediction is the players around him will enjoy more space and cause more havoc due to his reputation alone. The SBW show is fine for rugby.
darwin stubby
Guest
give it a few weeks and it'll be "the best in the world"
Capital
Roar Guru
Good to hear from you OJ I think we have a number of options that will play pretty well. And agree, the next few matches will give bragging rights for three weeks - then it all starts again with only one winner, and the rest lamenting - four more years.
Damien
Roar Guru
It does seem alittle overblown but to be fair this is only a topic because the centre combo for the AB's is the biggest question in NZ selection wise. Everyone man & his dog has an opinion about which way the AB's should go. Putting SBW on the bench has sort of answered the question (we won't know till the Wallaby test who really has the inside running). The NZ press has 'SBW on the bench". So most Kiwi's will go "Oh so they went with Nonu.." The Sun Herald which still has SBW in the (pardon the pun) Dog House has "SBW Snubbed For Field Start". The majority of the SBW haters frequent that site (the pro/anti split may be the same but the comments and the general gist of the press on those sites are Anti - SBW). Reading that headline and the actual comment on his selection people who haven't actually seen the end of the SR season would be going "Sucked in !!, Overated !!". Basically article goes on to say that SBW had a weak finish to the SR season. He had a strong game against the Stormers and a solid game against the Reds. Not sure weak is the right word. In saying that though SBW gets mostly good press so its not like everyone's Anti SBW.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Wait, you have a centre combination now? The real stuff hasn't even begun yet.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Nonu has the runs on the board so rightfully he gets first crack. SBWs form this year has been good in a few games, ok in a few, and anonymous in the rest. Either way a headline for a player making the bench is probably a first for nz rugby, and a ridiculous one at that.
Capital
Roar Guru
Jiggles, He has been part of the Centre fear campaign flogged by our media when we had no combination. It will be interesting to see who starts against Wallabies and in RWC. Personally, I would be picking SBW over Nonu - I think Nonu is past his best from what I have seen the last two seasons. I am sure his experience will prove invaluable but I am not sure if this is a form issue - SBW not at his best; or a probable combination with Nonu Fruean; or a backup combination. Although I would pick SBW, I think that aside from his offload - which is a great weapon in attack; that he is pretty standard running centre.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Wow a player makes the bench and he gets the headline... This takes overblown hype to a new level
Bazza All Black
Guest
Got tickets on half way (thanks work!!) - will still be an awesome atmos at the caketin!!!