Beauden Barrett will play at flyhalf for New Zealand against Australia in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney.
Barrett emerged as the premier No 10 in the latter stages of Super Rugby and has been rewarded for his consistency with a rare start ahead of Aaron Cruden.
Elsewhere in the backline, Israel Dagg gets the nod at fullback with Ben Smith and Waisake Naholo on the wings. Malakai Fekitoa and Ryan Crotty team up in the midfield while Aaron Smith starts at scrumhalf.
In the pack, captain Kieran Read completes the back row with flankers Sam Cane and Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick are the preferred locks and props Owen Franks and Wyatt Crockett will scrum down next to hooker Nathan Harris.
Prop Kane Hames was named in the match 23 after receiving a late call-up into the squad as injury cover for Joe Moody, and will be the sixth new All Black of 2016 if he debuts off the bench.
All Blacks – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Waisake Naholo, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Subs: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Kane Hames, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Liam Squire, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Julian Savea.
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
