The return of veteran Dan Carter and the injection of new blood headline a raft of changes to the All Blacks for the final rugby Test against France on Saturday.
There are five changes to the run-on side and three new faces added to the reserves are expected to make their debuts off the bench at New Plymouth.
The All Blacks already have the series wrapped up after winning the first two tests 23-13 and 30-0 but coach Steve Hansen insisted he is not taking France lightly despite the experimental look to the third Test side.
“We certainly won’t be underestimating the French in this final match,” he said when naming the line-up on Thursday.
“We have put a full stop to last weekend’s performance and (are) expecting further improvement from ourselves, and another hard, physical contest from the French.
“However, we are committed to continue building the depth in our squad and introducing new players to Test match rugby, hence why we have selected the team we have.”
Backline general Carter returns to fly-half after recovering from the broken hand that sidelined him for the first two Tests to team up with the seasoned Piri Weepu at scrum-half.
They add 164 caps to the team, 127 more than Aaron Cruden and Aaron Smith, the starting halves in the first two Tests.
Rene Ranger, who has wreaked havoc off the bench so far in the series, gets a start on the wing in place of Julian Savea in the only other back-line change.
In the forwards, a calf injury to rising hooker Dane Coles has seen him replaced by Andrew Hore, with Keven Mealamu added to the bench, and Victor Vito gets his first start in the series, replacing Liam Messam
None of the replaced players gets a role on the bench which includes the untested Charles Piutau, Steven Luatua and Matt Todd.
Luatua, a bruising runner with the ball, will cover both lock and blindside flanker while Todd is likely to substitute openside flanker Sam Cane late in the game.
Barring injuries in the match, full-back Piutau is expected to make his debut in a back three reshuffle during the last quarter of the match.
All Blacks team to play France in the third Test on Saturday
Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Rene Ranger, Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Victor Vito, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Wyatt Crockett.Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Ben Franks, Steven Luatua, Matt Todd, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Charles Piutau.
atlas
Guest
article today on the NZ 2011 U-20 team and what has happened to them - what a success - likely see five of them play tomorrow Ten are either in the All Blacks (if Luatua/Piutau play tomorrow they join Barrett, Retallick and Cane with test caps) or All Blacks wider training squad (Tameifuna, Bird -who'd be an AB now if nor for injury, Shields, Luke Whitelock, Perenara) Another 5 playing Super rugby: Waisake Naholo (Blues, NZ Sevens), Michael Kainga, Solomon Sakalia, Gareth Anscombe (Chiefs), Codie Taylor (Crusaders), Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders)
atlas
Guest
Carter needs 15 more points to become the first player to score 1400 in test matches 1385 pts from 94 games, average 14.7 per match. Maybe one stat he won't beat, drop-goals. His 6 v Wilkinson's 36. but he has 29 tries v Wilkinson's 7.
Johnno
Guest
Wow I thought most aussies were sold on Nick Cummins , I was clearly wrong. Short memories ay. Did you not remember his rugby championship form last year or the end of season Euro tour, or his match vs the Lions for the force only a few weeks ago, in his comeback from injury he has been strong. Wow clearly people here don't rate the honey badger.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
I think Barret will go to the wing and Ranger will go to centre. Piutau will go to fullback for Dagg.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Johnno and Kpm your input to this sight is great and i enjoy reading allot of the things you say because i find most of it amusing...this however makes me wonder what you guys are drinking when you watch the games. Ben Smith is the form back of the Super competition, and everything he has done in the past 2 tests has been effective. Give Dingo the chance and he would start Ben Smith at fullback for the Wallabies in the first test against the Lions, i would bet my house on that.
Sage
Guest
Aaaah Piggy
Short-Blind
Guest
I looked at the number if posts on this post and thought WTF? I know there are a lot of kiwis who regularly read here but > 100 so soon. The I read on and saw the KPM /Johnno side show & understood. I think even you hardened kiwis know they, although passionate, they do not represent the majority of learned Aussi rugby followers.
Rebel
Guest
Just got a flashback to the closing scene of Fight Club with that conversation between Jonno and KPM
Jeramiah
Guest
Hahahhaha yet we will still whip the wobblies this yr with those average players both b smith and conrad r class both would make any team u keep supporting your teams kpm and johnno we will keep supporting our team thank god you two dont pick the all black team or else fruen would be there and he kaka
Riccardo
Guest
Messam covers the basics but as Jerry says is not explosive in contact; where's the leg drive? Where's the crushing tackles. We may have been spoilt with Jerome but this is Messam's 2nd gig & he has been disappointing for me. Like Justin I think Luatua could be the way forward at blindside and the quicker he is exposed the better.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
The All Blacks weren't on the front foot enough for Savea to perform the way people like backs to perform. If you consider the way the match played out, probably the only mistake he made was that quick lineout where he passed back into the 22 and Dagg kicked it out on the full. He reminds me a bit of Jonah in that you need to create space for him to finish, which the All Blacks haven't been doing so far. In the first test, that had a lot to do with Dagg.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
He did some good things, but wasn't anywhere near his peak I thought. His Hurricanes form was a massive drop off after being charged, and he didn't do much in the first test. Even Steve Hansen was publicly commenting on it. Some guys need to be settled and happy to perform at their best, and it seems that many islanders and maoris fit this category. Savea certainly does. When he's happy, he's confident, and when he's confident he's unbelievably good.
Jerry
Guest
NZ rugby players who go to Aus increase the average rugby ability in both countries?
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Considering how many Kiwis live in Australia, you're almost under-represented in our Super 15 teams. As for up-and-comers, we couldn't get anywhere near someone like Savea. Jason Woodward is really the only one that I've heard people complain about escaping to Australia. Well they complained about Mike Harris, but I not sure what they were thinking. Once the penny dropped they went back to laughing at us. I don't care how well he can kick, he was never a good enough player to get near a gold jersey.
Jerry
Guest
He played bloody well on the weekend, I thought.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Savea is off the boil though, due to his off-field issues. Don't want to pressure him too much, or he might not rebound.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Actually, prompted by the comments about moving B Smith to replace C Smith long term, keeping Dagg at 15 makes sense.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Because Setanta hold the rights to them, if I remember correctly.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I wonder if he'll shift to centre at some point in the game. You'd think Barrett will get some game time on his home ground.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Australia ravage NZ far more. There are over twenty NZ born players in the Super fifteen this year not counting wider training squads and a few more young up and comers are already poached for next year by the Force. NZ is being bled by their neighbours first.