The All Blacks will field an experimental team underpinned by two greats when they play their first official Test on Japanese soil.
Captain Richie McCaw and first five-eighth Dan Carter provide the experience at Tokyo’s Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium but none of the rest starting against Japan on Saturday have played more than 30 Tests.
Wing Frank Halai and towering lock Dominic Bird will play their first Test while two other uncapped players – loose forward Luke Whitelock and prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen – are on the reserves bench.
Coach Steve Hansen has also taken the chance to field a number of players with a handful of Tests to their name or who have been largely employed as reserves during their unbeaten 2013 season.
“It is a great opportunity for our less-capped players to drive the All Blacks’ week and preparation,” Hansen said.
It is the least experienced New Zealand starting side in four years and the youngest in terms of average age since 2008.
In the starting backline, wing Charles Piutau and second five-eighth Francis Saili have started just one Test each in their debut seasons while Beauden Barrett has been shifted to fullback for what will be his first start of the year after nine bench appearances.
The locking combination is raw, with Bird partnered by Jeremy Thrush, whose only Test start was the 41-33 win over Australia at Dunedin two weeks ago.
Bird, who is the tallest All Black on record at 2.06m, completes a remarkable rise after making just three appearances for the Crusaders in his debut Super Rugby season.
Usual openside flanker McCaw will play just his second Test at No.8 in 120 appearances – the first was against Ireland in Hamilton last year – to allow young flankers Sam Cane and Steven Luatua another opportunity.
The game is timely for McCaw and Carter, who have both battled injury this year and are in need of rugby ahead of Tests against France, England and Ireland.
Carter hasn’t played since injuring his shoulder against South Africa nearly seven weeks ago.
“The three selectors have been very mindful of using this game to gather some more information on our younger players but also using it to provide McCaw and Carter with some game time,” Hansen said.
Despite a busy workload this season, Ben Smith wasn’t among the nine heavily-used All Blacks named to skip the Japan Test and fly straight to Paris.
The in-form utility gets another chance to cement himself in the problematic centre role, with Crusaders pair Ryan Crotty and Tom Taylor – who boast three Tests between them – the bench options.
All Blacks: Beauden Barrett, Charles Piutau, Ben Smith, Francis Saili, Frank Halai, Daniel Carter, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Richie McCaw (capt), Sam Cane, Steven Luatua, Dominic Bird, Jeremy Thrush, Ben Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Andrew Hore, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Charlie Faumuina, Brodie Retallick, Luke Whitelock, Aaron Smith, Tom Taylor, Ryan Crotty.