Two New Caps on All Black Side

Centre Aaron Mauger and wing forward Richard McCaw will realise a lifetime ambition when they don the All Black jersey for the first time against Ireland on Saturday.

Cantebury colleagues, centre Aaron Mauger and wing forward Richard McCaw will realise a lifetime ambition when they don the All Black jersey for the first time against Ireland on Saturday.

There is also a return to the side for No 8 Scott Robinson and prop Greg Feek who were omitted from the Tri-Nations series. They were members of the New Zealand Under 21 side that won the World Cup in Sydney.

Four players who made their All Black debut on Tuesday in Belfast – hooker Tom Willis, prop Dave Hewett, lock Dion Waller and utility back Ben Blair – are all included in the list of replacements. Blair was outstanding in that game, scoring 38 of his side’s 43 points.

New Zealand: Leon MacDonald, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga, Aaron Mauger, Jonah Lomu; Andrew Mehrtens, Byron Kelleher; Greg Feek, Anton Oliver capt, Greg Somerville; Chris Jack, Norm Maxwell; Reuben Thorne, Richard McCaw, Scott Robertson.

Replacements: 16 Tom Willis, 17 Dave Hewett, 18 Dion Waller, 19 Marty Holah, 20 Mark Robinson, 21 Ben Blair, 22 Caleb Ralph.