Fekitoa cracks the nod

Malakai Fekitoa will make his first start for the All Blacks in the third and final Test against England on Saturday.

Having come off the bench during the All Blacks 20-15 win at Eden Park, the hard-running Highlanders centre will get his chance after Conrad Smith was ruled out with a broken thumb.

He will take his place alongside Ma'a Nonu in the All Blacks midfield where he is likely to come up against Manu Tuilagi in a rejigged England backline.

Elsewhere, Kieran Read will play his first Test of the year after recovering from a concussion which has plagued him all season. He will start at No 8, with Jerome Kaino shifting to flank and Liam Messam dropping to the bench.

The rest of the side remains unchanged as the All Blacks look to claim a record equaling 17th consecutive win and seal a 3-0 series whitewash over the English in Hamilton.

All Blacks – 15 Ben Smith, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 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 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Liam Messam, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Ryan Crotty.

Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images