Waisake Naholo and Jack Goodhue have been named in the All Blacks starting XV for their opening Test against the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday.
Naholo has been preferred to Jordie Barrett for the third back-three spot, and will slot in alongside Ben Smith and Rieko Ioane. Goodhue, fresh off an excellent Super Rugby title-winning season with the Crusaders, has been selected alongside his franchise teammate Ryan Crotty.
As expected, Beauden Barrett has been preferred as the starting No 10. Damian McKenzie will cover flyhalf. Richie Mo’unga has been left out of the match-day squad.
Up front, Kieran Read has returned to captain the side, while Sam Whitelock is set to win his 100th international cap.
All Blacks – 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith; 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Subs: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Karl Tu’inukuake, 18 Tim Perry, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty
