All Blacks coach Graham Henry and his assistant coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen have selected the following team to play Australia in the ANZ Hong Kong Bledisloe Cup Test at Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday November 1.
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Andrew Hore
3. Neemia Tialata
4. Brad Thorn
5. Ali Williams
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw (Captain)
8. Rodney So’oialo
9. Jimmy Cowan
10. Stephen Donald
11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
12. Dan Carter
13. Conrad Smith
14. Hosea Gear
15. Mils Muliaina
Reserves:
16. Keven Mealamu
17. Greg Somerville
18. Anthony Boric
19. Adam Thomson
20. Piri Weepu
21. Ma’a Nonu
22. Isaia Toeava
Wellington winger Hosea Gear will make his All Blacks debut becoming All Blacks number 1079.
“Hosea has been outstanding in the Air New Zealand Cup and was the competition’s leading try scorer. He comes into the team in fantastic form,” All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said.
Henry said the team features eight players who played in the Air New Zealand Cup final on the weekend.
“There is an element of match hardness in the squad with most players having played Air New Zealand Cup rugby over the last month,” he added.
The team also features a key positional change, with Stephen Donald starting at first five-eighth and Dan Carter outside him at second five-eighth.
“Stephen has taken his opportunities this year and he was influential when he came on in the last Bledisloe Cup Test in Brisbane and deserves to start,” Henry said.
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