RYAN CROTTY WILL make his first start for New Zealand against Australia in the second Bledisloe Cup showdown in Auckland this weekend.
The 25-year-old has featured from the bench seven times in the past 12 months, including against Ireland where he scored the last-ditch try that helped the All Blacks to their unbeaten run in 2013.
Crotty replaces Ma’a Nonu, out with an injured shoulder, and has got the nod ahead of the more explosive Malakai Fekitoa to link up with Conrad Smith in midfield after he missed the opening Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney for the birth of his son.
Fekitoa has been named on the bench, while the only other change to the starting line-up sees Liam Messam return to the number six jersey as Jerome Kaino has been ruled out for between four and six weeks with an elbow injury.
Messam has had to bide his time to get a shot in the jersey he made his own last year but with Kaino likely to miss the upcoming home Tests against Argentina and South Africa the door has opened for him again.
On the bench, Charlie Faumuina is back after missing last week’s match because of illness – a change that sees Joe Moody drop out of the 23.
The match at Eden Park, where the All Blacks have not lost to Australia since 1986, will be Cory Jane’s 50th Test appearance.
He, along with the rest of the team, will be keen to atone for last Saturday’s 12-12 draw in Sydney.
“While we were disappointed with the draw last weekend, we are excited by the opportunity that presents itself this weekend,” said coach Steve Hansen.
“It’s another Test match against Australia, the chance to win the Bledisloe Cup and the first home Test of the Rugby Championship in front of our home fans.
“We have been working hard on all aspects of our game this week and there’s a definite resolve to improve the quality of our performance on Saturday.”
New Zealand: Ben Smith, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa.
