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DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) — Jarrad Hoeata has been selected to make his test debut and locking partner Ali Williams will play his first test in more than two years for the All Blacks in Friday's one-off match against Fiji.
Hoeata was included in a weakened New Zealand lineup for the match at Carisbrook to join 61-test veteran Williams, who has battled injury since playing his last test against England in December 2008.
Colin Slade will make his first starting appearance for New Zealand at flyhalf while Daniel Carter, the world's premier No. 10, has been included on the bench. Slade made his only previous All Blacks appearance from the bench against Australia in Melbourne last year.
Richie McCaw will captain New Zealand in his 95th test, but several of his Canterbury teammates have been rested after a lengthy Super 15 season which ended with a loss to the Queensland Reds in the tournament final.
McCaw will be part of a new-look backrow, with Adam Thomson starting his 18th test — his first since June last year — on the blindside flank and Liam Messam at No. 8.
Jimmy Cowan will start New Zealand's first test of the season at scrumhalf, pairing with his Otago Highlanders teammate Slade. Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith will renew their established partnership in midfield after Super 15 seasons disrupted by injury and suspension.
Winger Sitiveni Sivivatu has been named in the starting lineup, though he initially missed selection in New Zealand's squad for this match and the following Tri-Nations series. Sivivatu gets his chance because of injuries to Hosea Gear, Israel Dagg and Cory Jane.
Crusaders winger Zac Guildford returns to the All Blacks starting lineup after missing last year's Tri-Nations series and New Zealand's end of year tour to Britain.
At fullback, Mils Muliaina will match McCaw's New Zealand-record 95th test appearance.
New Zealand beat Fiji 91-0 when the teams last met at Auckland in 2005. But Samoa's upset win over Australia on Sunday has ensured world No. 1 New Zealand will not be taking the Fijians lightly, despite their current world ranking of No. 14.
"This is an important Test for us as we kick off this year's test season," coach Graham Henry said. "We have got some real competition for places and it's exciting for those players picked and they will keen to put their best foot forward.
"(Fiji) were competitive in the recent Pacific Nations Cup and will bring their unique style, so we will have to be clinical in the way we play. You just need to look at how Fiji's Pacific neighbors Samoa played against Australia on the weekend to know that if we underestimate Fiji, we do so at our peril."
Friday's match will be the last to be played at Carisbrook, which has hosted test matches in Dunedin for more than 100 years. World Cup matches in the South Island city will be played at a newly built, covered stadium.
Proceeds from the match will go to victims of the Feb. 22 Christchurch earthquake in which 181 people died.
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New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Liam Messam, Richie McCaw (captain), Adam Thomson, Ali Williams, Jarrad Hoeata, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Piri Weepu, Dan Carter, Ben Smith.
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Hoeata was included in a weakened New Zealand lineup for the match at Carisbrook to join 61-test veteran Williams, who has battled injury since playing his last test against England in December 2008.
Colin Slade will make his first starting appearance for New Zealand at flyhalf while Daniel Carter, the world's premier No. 10, has been included on the bench. Slade made his only previous All Blacks appearance from the bench against Australia in Melbourne last year.
Richie McCaw will captain New Zealand in his 95th test, but several of his Canterbury teammates have been rested after a lengthy Super 15 season which ended with a loss to the Queensland Reds in the tournament final.
McCaw will be part of a new-look backrow, with Adam Thomson starting his 18th test — his first since June last year — on the blindside flank and Liam Messam at No. 8.
Jimmy Cowan will start New Zealand's first test of the season at scrumhalf, pairing with his Otago Highlanders teammate Slade. Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith will renew their established partnership in midfield after Super 15 seasons disrupted by injury and suspension.
Winger Sitiveni Sivivatu has been named in the starting lineup, though he initially missed selection in New Zealand's squad for this match and the following Tri-Nations series. Sivivatu gets his chance because of injuries to Hosea Gear, Israel Dagg and Cory Jane.
Crusaders winger Zac Guildford returns to the All Blacks starting lineup after missing last year's Tri-Nations series and New Zealand's end of year tour to Britain.
At fullback, Mils Muliaina will match McCaw's New Zealand-record 95th test appearance.
New Zealand beat Fiji 91-0 when the teams last met at Auckland in 2005. But Samoa's upset win over Australia on Sunday has ensured world No. 1 New Zealand will not be taking the Fijians lightly, despite their current world ranking of No. 14.
"This is an important Test for us as we kick off this year's test season," coach Graham Henry said. "We have got some real competition for places and it's exciting for those players picked and they will keen to put their best foot forward.
"(Fiji) were competitive in the recent Pacific Nations Cup and will bring their unique style, so we will have to be clinical in the way we play. You just need to look at how Fiji's Pacific neighbors Samoa played against Australia on the weekend to know that if we underestimate Fiji, we do so at our peril."
Friday's match will be the last to be played at Carisbrook, which has hosted test matches in Dunedin for more than 100 years. World Cup matches in the South Island city will be played at a newly built, covered stadium.
Proceeds from the match will go to victims of the Feb. 22 Christchurch earthquake in which 181 people died.
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New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Liam Messam, Richie McCaw (captain), Adam Thomson, Ali Williams, Jarrad Hoeata, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Piri Weepu, Dan Carter, Ben Smith.
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