Experienced All Black Side Named For Samoa Test

An experienced All Blacks side has been named for Wednesday’s historic test in Samoa.

The side Richie McCaw leads features three other All Black centurions - Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu and Daniel Carter.

The least experienced member of the forward pack is lock Luke Romano who’ll partner Sam Whitelock in the second row.

Right wing George Moala is the only debutant in the starting fifteen, joining Charles Piutau and Israel Dagg in the back three, while Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty start in midfield.

There are three more new All Blacks on the bench – Nepo Laulala, Brad Weber and Charlie Ngatai.

The full side is Woodcock, Mealamu, Owen Franks, Romano, Whitelock, Kaino, McCaw, Read, Ellis, Carter, Piutau, Williams, Crotty, Moala and Dagg.

Having not played rugby since April due to a calf injury, Israel Dagg says he's more than ready for a starting spot.

He says it's been a long time since he's played and is feeling very fresh.

Full line up:

Starting XV:
1. Tony Woodcock (110)
2. Keven Mealamu (123)
3. Owen Franks (67)
4. Luke Romano (17)
5. Samuel Whitelock (62)
6. Jerome Kaino (56)
7. Richie McCaw - captain (137)
8. Kieran Read (72)
9. Andy Ellis (26)
10. Daniel Carter (102)
11. Charles Piutau (14)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (23)
13. Ryan Crotty (13)
14. George Moala
15. Israel Dagg (46)

Reserves:
16. Hikawera Elliot (3)
17. Wyatt Crockett (36)
18. Nepo Laulala
19. Brodie Retallick (36)
20. Matt Todd (2)
21. Brad Weber
22. Colin Slade (17)
23. Charlie Ngatai

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