The All Blacks have made seven changes to the team that so comprehensively beat the Springboks last week, to face the Wallabies in this weekend Tri Nations clash in Auckland.
The changes come as coach Graham Henry has indicated that he will rotate his squad ahead of the World Cup later this year, all the while finding his best combinations. There are two changes in the front row with brother Franks swopping positions, Owen getting his turn to start the match, and Keven Mealamu returning to the hooking position.
In the second row the mighty Brad Thorn is back after having a nice week off, replacing Sam Whitelock. The last of the changes in the pack comes with Kieran Read returning to the back of the scrum, with Adam Thomson covering from the bench.
In the backs, we see the rotation policy in full swing with Piri Weepu starting ahead of Jimmy Cowan, Guildford being replaced by Hosea Gear and Cory Jane missing out to make space for Sivivatu. Both wingers and the scrumhalf sit out the weekend altogether.
The New Zealand team: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Sam Whitelock, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.
Amazing. The AB’s could probably put together two teams right now that would hammer the Boks.
Some interesting facts about the starting 15 in the All Black team.
The combined 766 caps of the starting side – at 51 tests per player – will take them past the 750 achieved by the Springboks against the Wallabies at Bloemfontein last year.
Saturday’s All Blacks have an average age of just under 29, lifting them past the previous oldest All Blacks starting XV who lost to the Wallabies at Athletic Park in 1982.
Older even than the England team that won the RWC2003
@Pokkel (Comment 2) :
It is an amazingly old team isn’t it, should we (NZ’ers) be worried about that stat?
… is the first choice Bok side younger?
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 3) :
I wouldnt call them old..
Carter and McCaw each have another World Cup in them.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 3) : yes the 1st choice bok team is younger
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 3) :
Do you consider this your 1st choice AB team?
@rhineshark (Comment 1) : Deja Vu, I recall hearing the exact same thing in 2006/7, when the All Blacks toured at the end of 2006, everyone claimed that they had two teams that would beat any other team in the world. Apparently the ABs had a third team that could not beat the French.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 7) : Oh sorry, a third team that could not beat Wayne Barnes!
@Dancing Bear: guess it is just fair play that they get one bad decision against them once every four years,considering how much of their”invincibility” is built around refs giving them leeway the rest of the time..(Thumbs down)
Read,mccaw and kaino : their 1st choice loosies methinks.
@Richard Ferguson: 4 years is actually a long time.. I think carter will not make it to the next wc.
Not as a player.