All Blacks axe Carter

Beauden Barrett will start at flyhalf for the All Blacks against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

He replaces Dan Carter, who failed to impress against Scotland in his first Test start in a year and has fallen out of the match 23, with Colin Slade named on the bench.

'If [Carter] had come through the other day probably a little bit better he might have been on the bench,' said coach Steve Hansen. 'But it's impossible to ask a guy who has played the amount of rugby he's had to not be rusty. It was a big ask.

'For him it's great that he's got confidence that his body is right, we've got confidence his body is right. He just needs to go home now and play some Super Rugby and lots of it.'

Meanwhile, Richie McCaw will become the first player to captain a team in 100 Tests. He has switched back to openside flank for his 137th Test having played on the blindside last Saturday.

All Blacks – 15 Ben Smith, 14 Charles Piutau, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Subs: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Liam Messam, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Ryan Crotty.

Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

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