Malakai Fekitoa and Ryan Crotty have been given a first opportunity to cement a midfield partnership following the global retirements of Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu. The pair have played a combined 28 tests and made 11 starts (Crotty four, Fekitoa seven). In the midfield it’s nice to have that experienced combination back and the players who move to the bench will still have an impact on game day.
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Ryan Crotty will start at second-five for the All Blacks against Wales on Saturday.
The other bench-warmers not selected for the World Cup are the two rookies and lock Patrick Tuipulotu.
Aaron Cruden, named outside halfback Aaron Smith, has won the battle of the first-fives, with Ben Smith at fullback, and Julian Savea and Waisake Naholo on the wings.
Nine players who began the World Cup final have retained their place for the opening Test against Wales at Eden Park on Saturday.
Cruden is handed the playmaking duties in front of in-form pair Beauden Barrett and Lima Sopoaga in one of the more contentious decisions.
Dane Coles, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Harris is in line for his first test since November, 2014, when he broke his ankle.
Uncapped Cardiff Blues flanker Ellis Jenkins, meanwhile, is named among the replacements after being rushed into Wales’ squad just before departure for New Zealand after Dan Lydiate suffered a shoulder injury during the England game.
The All Blacks matchday 23 features an experienced core of senior players and new talent, with 720 caps in the squad, and an average of 31 caps per player.
The All Blacks will be keen to defend a 35 match unbeaten record at Eden Park that stretches back to 1994 – and protect a winning run against Wales going back to 1953.
With seven All Blacks veterans with over 500 test caps of experience now retired following last year’s World Cup victory, Foster said the All Blacks are vulnerable, but so too are Wales.
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“One player is gone who has been there a long time and we’ve got three players who have all been there before and all three are playing well”, All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster said.
