TJ Perenara will start at scrum-half in Scott Robertson’s first All Blacks team, partnering with fly-half Damian McKenzie for Saturday’s series-opening Test against England in Dunedin, live on Sky Sports.
Perenara succeeds Aaron Smith in role, with the veteran halfback having retired from Test rugby after last year’s World Cup final defeat to South Africa.
Robertson has opted for Dalton Papali’i at openside flanker, with former skipper Sam Cane unavailable with a back problem.
Papali’i starts alongside No 8 Ardie Savea, with Samipeni Finau on the blindside in the Scott Barrett-captained team.
Lock Patrick Tuipulotu lines up next to Barrett in the second row, while Stephen Perofeta takes the fullback position in a back three with Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece.
Playmaker Beauden Barrett will start from the bench, while Finlay Christie is the back-up scrumhalf in the reserves.
New Zealand: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Tele’a, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 TJ Perenara; 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Scott Barrett (capt), 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 6 Samipeni Finau, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 8 Ardie Savea
Replacements: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Tupou Vaa’i, 20-Luke Jacobson, 21-Finlay Christie, 22-Anton Lienert-Brown, 23-Beauden Barrett
Who features for England?
Joe Marler and Will Stuart have been selected to start in England’s front row, with the props replacing Bevan Rodd and Dan Cole in the only changes from the side that beat Japan 52-17 in Tokyo last month.
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Highlights of England’s eight-try victory against former head coach Eddie Jones’ Japan in Tokyo
England: 15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade,12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jamie George (c), 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Martin, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Ben Earl
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Ollie Sleightholme
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