Three uncapped players and only seven survivors from the side that started last year's World Cup final have been named in the All Blacks team to play Ireland in the first Test Saturday.
Head coach of the New Zealand All Blacks Steve Hansen, pictured in 2011. Three uncapped players and only seven survivors from the side that started last year's World Cup final have been named in the All Blacks team to play Ireland in the first Test Saturday.
Injuries, retirements and poor form have forced new coach Steve Hansen to vastly remodel the side that scraped home victorious by eight points to seven against France in their last Test eight months ago.
Scrum-half Aaron Smith, lock Brodie Retallick and wing Julian Savea are expected to make their Test debuts against Ireland with Smith and Retallick rising rapidly in their first year of Super 15 rugby.
Zac Guildford, a late addition to Hansen's pre-selection training squad following injuries to Cory Jane and Richard Kahui, has been named in the right wing spot to complete his rehabilitation from a series of alcohol-fuelled incidents.
Hansen's All Blacks will take the field against Ireland with a combined total of 527 caps, well down on the 724 amassed by the team Sir Graham Henry fielded against France, if all goes well over the next few days.
But despite being down on experience and only having the team together for a limited time, Hansen declared on Thursday to be satisfied with the build up.
"With such a short preparation time, we have focused on keeping things simple and bringing the team together," he said.
"We have been concentrating on making sure we have clarity early in the week, increasing intensity and accuracy as the week goes on, which should allow us to put in a performance that we can be proud of on Saturday."
Smith, who features a long and swift pass, has had a rapid rise this year to overtake the three World Cup scrum-halves -- Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis and Jimmy Cowan - with Weepu listed to start from the bench.
The selectors believe his rapid delivery will give an extra edge to fly-half Dan Carter in a backline where Sonny Bill Williams has been preferred as Conrad Smith's partner in the centres.
The front row is the established trio of Owen Franks, Andrew Hore and Tony Woodcock and behind them Retallick has kept out the veteran Ali Williams to partner Sam Whitelock in the engine room.
Retallick will become the second youngest lock in All Blacks history, just two days older than Mark Cooksley who was 21 years seven days old when he made his debut in 1992, if he starts as planned.
Victor Vito, a member of the World Cup squad but not required for the final, has been preferred as the blindside flanker to fill the void left by Jerome Kaino
The World Cup survivors are Israel Dagg, Conrad Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw, Whitelock, Franks and Woodcock.
Keven Mealamu, Jane and Kahui were not considered because of injury, Brad Thorn has gone overseas and the injured Jerome Kaino is soon to join him.
Aaron Cruden and Weepu who started in the World Cup final are in the reserves for Saturday.
New Zealand (15-1)
Israel Dagg; Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea; Daniel Carter Aaron Smith; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Victor Vito; Samuel Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Hikawera Elliot, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith.