ALL BLACKS ANNOUNCE TEAM FOR WALES TEST
The match will see Wellington prop Neemia Tialata and Taranaki flanker Chris Masoe earn their first caps. Reserve Angus Macdonald will also make his All Blacks debut if called off the bench into either the second or back row.
“To develop depth you have to put new players in the arena,” said All Blacks coach Graham Henry. “They’ll be stronger for the experience and so will the team. We will take another big step in our development on Saturday.”
In addition to the three new players, Saturday’s centenary Test against Wales will be only the second start of James Ryan’s international career. The Otago lock started against Fiji in June and appeared off the bench four more times during the DHL New Zealand Lions Series and the Philips Tri Nations.
Meanwhile, Anton Oliver makes his first All Blacks start of the season while his reserve, Andrew Hore, last saw All Blacks action during the 2004 Philips Tri Nations. Halfback Byron Kelleher and first five-eighth Dan Carter both return from injuries sustained during the Philips Tri Nations Series.
Of the 35-man squad on tour in the United Kingdom and Ireland, only lock Ali Williams was unavailable for selection due to injury.
New Zealand:
M Muliaina (Auckland)
R Gear (Nelsons Bay)
C Smith (Wellington)
T Umaga (Wellington, capt)
J Rokocoko (Auckland)
D Carter (Canterbury)
B Kelleher (Waikato)
N Tialata (Wellington)
A Oliver (Otago)
C Hayman (Otago)
C Jack (Canterbury)
J Ryan (Otago)
J Collins (Wellington)
C Masoe (Taranaki)
R So’oialo (Wellington)
Replacements:
A Hore (Taranaki)
T Woodcock (North Harbour)
A Macdonald (Auckland)
R McCaw (Canterbury)
J Cowan (Southland)
M Nonu (Wellington)
L MacDonald (Canterbury)
