All Blacks Team named to play Australia

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry and his Assistant Coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have named the All Blacks team for the first Bledisloe Cup clash in the Investec Tri Nations against Australia at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday 6 August.
Starting XV:
1. Wyatt Crockett (5)
2. Keven Mealamu (83)
3. Owen Franks (22)
4. Brad Thorn (50)
5. Ali Williams (63)
6. Jerome Kaino (39)
7. Richie McCaw – captain (96)
8. Kieran Read (30)
9. Piri Weepu (46)
10. Daniel Carter (81)
11. Hosea Gear (6)
12. Ma’a Nonu (58)
13. Conrad Smith (47) 14. Sitiveni Sivivatu (44)
15. Mils Muliaina (96)
Reserves:
16. Andrew Hore (52)
17. Ben Franks (9)
18. Samuel Whitelock (15)
19. Adam Thomson (19)
20. Andy Ellis (18)
21. Colin Slade (3)
22. Sonny Bill Williams (5)
 

Number of Test caps in brackets
The starting XV features seven changes to the team that beat South Africa 40–7 in the opening Investec Tri Nations match in Wellington last weekend, with four forwards playing their first Tests of the year: Owen Franks replaces brother Ben at tighthead prop; Keven Mealamu is back at hooker; Brad Thorn is at lock alongside Ali Williams; and Kieran Read is at number eight.
In the backs, Piri Weepu has been picked at halfback, making his first Test start since last year’s Bledisloe Cup 23–22 All Blacks victory in Sydney; Hosea Gear returns from his recent hamstring injury to start his first Test of the year on the left wing; while Sitiveni Sivivatu is on the right wing.