Beauden Barrett will captain New Zealand for the first time as Dave Rennie named his team to face Wales in Cardiff on Saturday. The full-back, set to win his 149th cap, leads a side featuring eight changes to the starting XV and 10 alterations to the matchday squad.
First Test starts for Segner and Fineanganofo
Back-row Anton Segner and wing Fehi Fineanganofo have both been handed their first Test starts for the All Blacks. Rennie had been expected to make changes after New Zealand eased past Scotland with a strong second-half display in Edinburgh last weekend.
The matchday squad still contains considerable experience, boasting just shy of 100 caps more than Wales. Wales have 690 caps in their squad, while New Zealand have 783, though the vast majority belong to a handful of players.
Experience spread thin
Second-row Scott Barrett has 92 caps, while returning Richie Mo'unga and Anton Lienert-Brown are both vastly experienced at Test level. Rieko Ioane is named on a bench that, without his 92 caps, averages just nine caps per player. Excluding Ioane, Mo'unga, Lienert-Brown and both Barretts, the All Blacks average around 16 caps per player.
New Zealand confirmed earlier this week that Will Jordan, who has scored 56 tries in 64 Tests, would miss out with a minor hamstring tear. Inside centre Jordie Barrett was also ruled out on Tuesday despite passing his HIA protocols; the 29-year-old knocked a tooth loose after colliding with Blair Kinghorn while making a tackle during the win over Scotland.
Wales make four changes
Wales named their team earlier on Thursday, with Steve Tandy making four changes. Taine Basham came in for the injured Aaron Wainwright, while Adam Beard, James Botham and Gabriel Hamer-Webb all start. Wales have not beaten New Zealand since 1953, having lost the last 34 Tests.
