- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The All Blacks have named their least experienced team for nearly four years to face France in the first Test at Auckland.
The starting 15 to run onto Eden Park on Saturday boasts just 377 combined Test caps, with little-used front-rowers Dane Coles and Wyatt Crockett included in an inexperienced tight five.
It is the least hardened side since a team featuring 229 combined caps faced Italy at Milan in November 2009 – 43 Tests ago.
Missing are two experienced playmakers – first five-eighth Dan Carter (hand) and halfback Piri Weepu (concussion) – who have been in doubt all week due to injury.
Their places go to Manawatu provincial teammates Aaron Cruden and Aaron Smith in a backline that looks more settled than the forward pack.
Of the nine players retained from the starting 15 who lost 38-21 to England at Twickenham in the final game of 2012, five are in the backs.
The changes are Cruden’s promotion over Carter and the injured Cory Jane’s replacement on the right wing by 12-Test Ben Smith, who will make his fourth start.
Fullback Israel Dagg and wing Julian Savea also start outside the old firm of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith, who will extend their record New Zealand Test record midfield combination to 44 Tests.
The four forwards retained from Twickenham are No.8 Kieran Read, who is captain for the three-Test series, flanker Liam Messam, lock Brodie Retallick and tighthead prop Owen Franks, easily the most experienced member of the tight five with 45 caps.
Four-Test openside flanker Sam Cane starts in place of veteran skipper Richie McCaw, who is taking a break from rugby, lock Luke Romano is in for an injured Sam Whitelock (finger), prop Crockett replaces an injured Tony Woodcock (hamstring and nose abscess) and four-Test hooker Coles is handed a first start.
There are two new caps on the eight-man bench – also tight five forwards – prop Ben Afeaki and lock Jeremy Thrush.
While injuries have forced coach Steve Hansen to make changes up front, the promotion of Coles ahead of 34-year-old veterans Keven Mealamu and Andrew Hore was unexpected.
The 26-year-old came off the bench on all four Tests in the 2012 season-ending tour of Europe.
Three different injuries (ankle, thumb and eye) has seen him struggle for game time with the Hurricanes.
He has played just six games, including last weekend against the ACT Brumbies following a five-week spell on the sideline.
The Test is the first between the teams since they contested the World Cup final 20 months ago, also at Eden Park.
All Blacks: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Ben Afeaki, Jeremy Thrush, Victor Vito, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Rene Ranger.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.