Two new caps for All Blacks
2008-06-17 10:42
Wellington - Richard Kahui and Rudi Wulf will make their debuts for New Zealand on Saturday after being called into a reshuffled team to play England in the second Test.
Kahui will start at outside centre in place of Conrad Smith while Wulf will start on the left wing after coming in for Anthony Tuitavake.
Sitiveni Sivivatu switches from the left wing to the right side in one of two positional changes.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry also promoted fullback Leon MacDonald into the starting lineup for Mils Muliaina while adding blindside flanker Adam Thomson to the forward pack.
Thomson made his debut off the bench in the 21-11 victory over Ireland in Wellington on June 7 and his promotion to the starting lineup allows Rodney So'oialo to switch back to number eight with Jerome Kaino dropping out of the 22-man squad.
Prop Tony Woodcock, who has recovered from a toe injury, has replaced John Schwalger on the replacements bench.
New Zealand won the first Test 37-20 at Auckland last Saturday and Henry said he faced a difficult challenge getting the balance right between trying to win the second Test and giving new players their chance at international level.
'We have faith'
"Our first goal is to win," Henry said in a statement on Tuesday. "We also need to give some of our new players a chance to experience test level rugby and handle that situation.
"The challenge we've set for this weekend is to do both of these things at the same time and we have faith in the players that they can do it."
New Zealand: 15-Leon MacDonald; 14-Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13-Richard Kahui, 12-Ma'a Nonu, 11-Rudi Wulf; 10-Dan Carter, 9-Andy Ellis; 8-Rodney So'oialo, 7-Richie McCaw (captain), 6-Adam Thomson, 5-Ali Williams, 4-Brad Thorn, 3-Greg Somerville, 2-Andrew Hore, 1-Neemia Tialata.
Replacements: 16-Kevin Mealamu, 17-Tony Woodcock, 18-Anthony Boric, 19-Sione Lauaki, 20-Jimmy Cowan, 21-Stephen Donald, 22-Mils Muliaina.
England: Mathew Tait, Topsy Ojo, Mike Tindall, Jamie Noon, Tom Varndell, Toby Flood, Danny Care, Luke Narraway, Tom Rees, James Haskell, Steve Borthwick (capt), Tom Palmer, Matt Stevens, Lee Mears, Tim Payne. Res: David Paice, Jason Hobson, Ben Kay, Joe Worsley, Pete Richards, Olly Barkley, David Strettle.
- Rugby Heaven