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By Greg Stutchbury
AUCKLAND, June 7 (Reuters) – Scrumhalf Aaron Smith, winger
Julian Savea and lock Brodie Retallick will make their All
Blacks debuts on Saturday after coach Steve Hansen named his
team for the first test against Ireland at Eden Park in
Auckland.
All three had been widely expected to start for the world
champions after being named in the squad on Sunday following
impressive performances in Super Rugby this season.
Retallick will become the second youngest lock to play for
New Zealand, having just celebrated his 21st birthday.
“We picked them…because they have all shown that they have
special qualities which they now get the opportunity to show on
the international stage,” Hansen said in a statement.
Dan Carter, who was forced out of last year’s World Cup
after suffering a groin injury, will become the most capped All
Blacks flyhalf in his 71st test at standoff. He has also played
15 tests in other backline positions.
Hansen, who spent eight years as an assistant, named seven
players who started last year’s World Cup final as he walks the
tightrope of managing the high expectations of the rugby-mad
country and rebuilding a side capable of defending the Webb
Ellis trophy in 2015.
While only seven started the 8-7 victory over France, five
others in Saturday’s starting lineup were part of the World Cup
winning squad, with five of the seven replacements on Saturday
also in the team.
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