McKenzie to play full-back as All Blacks spring surprise

The All Blacks have sprung a surprise by naming Damian McKenzie at full-back for the third Bledisloe Cup Test in Japan as Sonny Bill Williams prepares to make his 50th appearance.

McKenzie has not featured since September’s Rugby Championship defeat to South Africa but the diminutive 23-year-old will start Saturday’s showdown against rivals Australia Yokohama.

His inclusion sees Ben Smith shuffle out to the wing, while TJ Perenara has been given the nod ahead of starting half-back Aaron Smith for the Test at Nissan Stadium.

It will be a milestone outing and rare start for veteran Williams, who made his debut for the All Blacks in November 2010.

Steve Hansen – seeking a 3-0 sweep of the Wallabies – also welcomes back a host of stars, including props Joe Moody and Nepo Laulala, lock Brodie Retallick – via the bench – and flanker Liam Squire.

 SPOTLIGHT | Joe Moody is back! Catch up with the #AllBlacks prop as he chats about his selection in the starting XV for this weekend’s test against Australia. KICK OFF  Saturday, 7:00pm NZT

FULL TEAM ➡️ https://t.co/2kPgm55xgA#NZLvAUS pic.twitter.com/lpowp5pPYl

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 25, 2018

“We’ll be up against a good Australian team and they’ll be desperate to win, but so are we,” head coach Hansen said. “We know that they’ll come with a lot of passion and physicality, but our focus this week has been about us and what we want to bring — intensity, skill and a triple threat game.

“Being well prepared, clear in our roles and excited about the opportunity in playing this one-off Test against Australia in Japan, will be a good start in achieving a quality performance.”

What to do in when you want a! pic.twitter.com/X9ttYMujOh

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 25, 2018

Hansen added: “It’s great to have Joe, Nepo, Liam and Brodie, as well as Matt Todd, back. As well as being world-class rugby players, they also add a lot of experience to the team, both on and off the track. We look forward to seeing them play again.

“The Test match will provide us with another great opportunity to put into practise what we have learnt throughout our recent Tests in the Rugby Championship, and grow our game in the first Test of what will be an exciting Vista Northern Tour. We’re also excited to be playing the first of our two Tests here in Japan.”

New Zealand: Damian McKenzie, Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara; Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Samuel Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Liam Squire, Ardie Savea, Kieran Read.

Replacements: Nathan Harris, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Matt Todd, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Anton Lienert-Brown.

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