All Blacks announce team to play Scotland

All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu will captain the All Blacks for the first time while three players will make their Test debuts, with All Blacks coach Graham Henry and his assistant coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen today naming their team to play Scotland at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, on Saturday November 8.

The team is:
1. Jamie Mackintosh
2. Keven Mealamu (captain)
3. John Afoa
4. Anthony Boric
5. Ali Williams
6. Kieran Read
7. Adam Thomson
8. Liam Messam
9. Piri Weepu
10. Stephen Donald
11. Josevata Rokocoko
12. Ma’a Nonu
13. Richard Kahui
14. Anthony Tuitavake
15. Isaia Toeava

Reserves:
16. Corey Flynn
17. Neemia Tialata
18. Ross Filipo
19. Richie McCaw
20. Andy Ellis
21. Dan Carter
22. Cory Jane

Southland prop Jamie Mackintosh, Waikato’s Liam Messam and Canterbury loose forward Kieran Read will all make their All Blacks Test debuts, becoming All Black numbers 1081, 1082 and 1083 respectively. All three players captained their provincial teams in this year’s Air New Zealand Cup.

29-year-old Mealamu, who will play his 62nd Test this weekend, will become the 63rd All Blacks Test captain and the fourth player of Samoan heritage to captain the All Blacks in a Test, following in the footsteps of former team mates Tana Umaga and Jerry Collins and current team mate Rodney So’oialo.

“Keven is one of the key players in the All Blacks and a strong leader and we congratulate him on reaching this significant milestone,” All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said.

Henry said with the All Blacks playing five Tests on consecutive weekends, as well as the match against Munster, the coaches had to strike the right balance when it came to selections for each Test match.

“This is a strong team with a mix of experienced players and new faces and we have picked the best team to win this Test match,” he said.

”We will not be taking the Scottish team lightly. They will be playing with passion and determination in front of a vocal Murrayfield so we are expecting a physical encounter,” Henry added.

The All Blacks have played Scotland 26 times, with the last Test at Murrayfield during Rugby World Cup 2007 when the All Blacks won 40-0.