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Otago's Tom Donnelly - Source: Photosport -
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There are five changes and two positional shifts in the All Blacks line-up for this weekend's Test against Australia.
27-year-old Otago lock Tom Donnelly, who has impressed in this year's Air New Zealand Cup, Junior All Blacks campaign and in training with the All Blacks squad, is to make his Test debut, replacing Isaac Ross who has started every Test this year.
Meanwhile, Donnelly's Otago team-mate, Adam Thomson, who made a strong showing off the bench in last weekend's Test, has been picked at blindside flanker, replacing Jerome Kaino.
In the front row, tighthead prop Neemia Tialata returns to the starting line-up for the first time since the All Blacks Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein in July, replacing Owen Franks, who has started in the last five All Blacks Tests.
In the backline, Ma'a Nonu has moved to second-five eighth and Isaia Toeava is at centre, while Joe Rokocoko has moved to the left wing, with Cory Jane getting his fourth start in his eighth Test on the right wing, with winger Sitiveni Sivivatu injured.
Meanwhile, Daniel Carter heads into this weekend's match as the highest point scorer in Tri Nations history. He passed Andrew Mehrtens' record of 328 points with his first kick at goal last weekend and currently sits on 345 points in the competition.
The All Blacks have played Australia 134 times since 1903 with
90 wins to the All Blacks, 39 to Australia and five draws. The All
Blacks won the last Test 19-18 in Sydney last month and also won
the last Test against Australia in New Zealand, 22-16, in the Tri
Nations opener in July.
All Blacks: 1. Tony Woodcock, 2. Andrew Hore, 3.
Neemia Tialata, 4. Brad Thorn, 5. Tom Donnelly, 6. Adam Thomson, 7.
Richie McCaw (capt), 8. Kieran Read, 9. Jimmy Cowan, 10. Dan
Carter, 11. Joe Rokocoko, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 13. Isaia Toeava, 14. Cory
Jane, 15. Mils Muliaina.
Reserves: 16. Aled de Malmanche, 17. John Afoa, 18. Jason Eaton, 19. Rodney So'oialo, 20. Brendon Leonard, 21. Stephen Donald, 22. Hosea Gear.
