All Blacks: Guildford set to make debut

Magpies winger Zac Guildford is tipped to be named in the All Blacks' starting XV for the clash with Wales. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

The All Blacks are poised to make up to six changes to their rugby team to face Wales, with winger Zac Guildford to make his test debut in the left wing.

The team trained yesterday at the Ospreys ground at Neath, home of former All Black Jerry Collins, where it seemed the changes were more extensive than first thought.

Apart from the two forced changes, with 20-year-old Guildford and one-test prop Wyatt Crockett replacing suspended pair Sitiveni Sivivatu and Tony Woodcock, others apparently set for recalls included lock Jason Eaton, flanker Jerome Kaino, No 8 Kieran Read and halfback Brendon Leonard.

On evidence of training, Eaton would replace Tom Donnelly, Kaino would be in for Adam Thomson, Read for Rodney So'oialo and Leonard for Jimmy Cowan at a sold out Millennium Stadium on Sunday morning.

Star pivot Daniel Carter was expected to be named at No 10 as he recovers from a bruised calf muscle.

Guildford, the star of the New Zealand Under-20 side this year, missed out on a debut last Saturday when he wasn't required off the bench in the 32-19 Bledisloe Cup test win over Australia in Tokyo.

Crockett was the designated backup at loosehead prop from Woodcock, who like Sivivatu was handed a one-match ban last Saturday for foul play against the Wallabies.

Eaton came off the bench in Tokyo and would be a minor surprise, with Anthony Boric appearing the most likely to replace Donnelly if there was a change in the second row.

Eaton hasn't started a test in over two years, since the Wallabies in Auckland in August 2007. It would be his 14th test appearance in all.

Kaino and Read were perhaps unlucky to miss selection in Tokyo and are in close battles with their rivals for the top spots in the loose trio. Read was excellent off the bench in Tokyo.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith had earlier hinted at changes.

"Part of the idea of this tour was to put heat on people, make it competitive and make sure players understood they were playing for their futures," Smith said.

"To do that you've got to give people games as well. Within a managed environment there will be some changes, but there will mainly be continuity."

The team was scheduled to be officially announced at 6am (NZT).

- NZPA