The All Blacks team to play against Argentina at AMI Stadium, Christchurch this coming Friday has been named.
Winger Waisake Naholo will make his test debut alongside new All Black hooker, Codie Taylor who was named on the reserves bench.
The starting 15 is as followed:
1. Tony Woodcock (111)
2. Keven Mealamu (124)
3. Owen Franks (68)
4. Luke Romano (18)
5. Brodie Retallick (37)
6. Jerome Kaino (57)
7. Richie McCaw - captain (138)
8. Kieran Read (73)
9. TJ Perenara (11)
10. Daniel Carter (103)
11. Charles Piutau (15)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (24)
13. Ma'a Nonu (94)
14. Waisake Naholo
15. Israel Dagg (47)
Reserves:
16. Codie Taylor
17. Wyatt Crockett (37)
18. Nepo Laulala (1)
19. Jeremy Thrush (11)
20. Liam Messam (40)
21. Andy Ellis (27)
22. Colin Slade (18)
23. Ryan Crotty (14)
It's another experienced All Blacks team to take on Argentina for the opening Rugby Championship match. Prop Tony Woodcock is to make his 100th test start in his career.
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen says "We are very much looking forward to our Friday night Test against an improving Argentinian team. There has been a lot of talk about the Rugby World Cup and so forth, but this Test match is all about the here and now.
"It's important that we get away to a really good start in the Investec Rugby Championship as we will only be playing each other once this year and we only have this one home game. We will need to get points early if we are going to give ourselves a chance of winning the Championship.
"We know the Argentinians will be big and fast and bring a physicality to the contest. But we are also expecting them to bring some panache through their backs as we have detected a greater desire from them to involve their whole team in their game.
"It will be a special occasion for all the Christchurch men in the group playing in front of their home crowd and I know they are all looking to put in a big performance."
All Blacks halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow and prop Joe Moody have been released to play for the Maori All Blacks and Cory Jane for the New Zealand Barbarians in the match between the two sides in Auckland on Saturday.