Beauden Barrett has beaten out the challenge of Richie Mo’unga to start at five-eighth for the All Blacks in his 100th Test on Sunday (3.15am AEDT).
The New Zealand selectors have shown no mercy towards a weakened Wales, naming a full strength side for the clash in front of a sold out Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Mo’unga wore No.10 in the 104-14 romp over the United States in Washington DC last weekend but coach Ian Foster explained why he felt Barrett was the right man for the occasion.
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“He’s playing well. He’s been running this team for the last couple of months, and we felt he deserved the opportunity,” Foster said.
“Clearly it’s his 100th Test, and we think he’s in a really good place to go and celebrate that with a game that really means a lot to him.
“It’s a big occasion here in Wales, he’s on top of his game, so we’re really delighted with that selection.”
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Barrett, a two time world player of the year, was often used as a fullback over the last two seasons so the All Blacks could accommodate Mo’unga at five-eighth.
But after a stint in Japan, Barrett stated his desire to compete for the 10 jersey again.
It is a welcome headache for the selectors and the envy of other rugby nations.
“He’s just a quality person,” Foster said.
“I’ve always said the thing I love about him is he prepares the team first and then himself.
“He’s very selfless in the way he goes about making sure the team gets the right preparation going into a Test match.
“And on the field he’s got that sense of adventure, and he’s his own style of 10 – slightly different.
“He can do stuff that 10s do, but he’s also got the ability to add a bit of flavour to it as well with his running game and speed.
“He’s massively influential in our camp.”
Jordie Barrett returns at fullback with Rieko Ioane and Will Jordan on the wings.
Jordan took his tally to 15 tries in 10 Tests with a hat trick against the United States.
Anton Lienert-Brown and David Havili will combine in midfield while TJ Perenara will start at halfback with Brad Weber on the bench.
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Foster has named Ardie Savea at No.8 and Ethan Blackadder and Dalton Papalii in his backrow with captain Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick in a strong second row.
Codie Taylor will start at hooker with the powerful Samisoni Taukei’aho on the bench.
There is no room for first choice skipper Sam Cane as he continues his comeback from a serious injury.
With the match falling outside World Rugby’s international window, Wales are without England-based players like Dan Biggar, Taulupe Faletau and Louis Rees-Zammit because they are not released by their clubs.
Key players George North, Josh Navidi and Justin Tipuric are all currently sidelined through injury, while centre Willis Halaholo is isolating after testing positive for COVID-19 and fullback Liam Williams is recovering from appendix surgery.
Foster said the All Blacks would not underestimate Wales, despite the absence of several key players.
“The Welsh will play with their traditional passion and their fans singing in the stadium and they’ll throw everything at us,” Foster said.
“They are Six Nations champions and a very good team.
“They have a group of young players coming through who’ll be excited to play so we will have to be ready and we are.”
New Zealand-born five-eighth Gareth Anscombe will make his first appearance for Wales in more than two years.
Anscombe, who qualifies to play for Wales via his mother, sustained a serious knee injury during a Rugby World Cup warmup game against England in 2019.
He has won the race for the 10 jersey in a lineup that sees 21-year-old flanker Taine Basham handed a first international start.
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Anscombe, who has won 27 caps for Wales, returned to action last month and has started three matches for the Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship.
Captain Alun Wyn Jones has won his 149th Wales cap to overtake retired New Zealand great Richie McCaw’s total for one country.
Jones has also played in 12 Tests for the British and Irish Lions.
On the bench, five-eighth Rhys Priestland is called up after an absence of four years.
Wales has not beaten the All Blacks since 1953, losing 31 successive games in that time including 16 defeats in Cardiff.