KEY POINTS:
EDINBURGH - The unveiling of a remodelled All Blacks side to start their Grand Slam rugby quest has barely raised a murmur at home, though Graham Henry still had to launch another strident defence of his selection policy today.
Only three players from the lineup that started the Bledisloe Cup finale in Hong Kong last weekend will start against Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday (NZT) and of those only lock Ali Williams is a first team regular.
Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter are on the bench while other automatic selections Rodney So'oialo, Brad Thorn and Tony Woodcock will watch from the stands before no doubt being involved against Ireland next weekend.
But Henry bristled at suggestions the All Blacks might be vulnerable against a Scottish side who must beat either the All Blacks or South Africa next weekend to improve their ranking before the pool allocation for the 2011 World Cup is made on December 1.
They need to replace eighth-ranked Ireland in order to miss a group featuring two of the game's heavyweights - and a tough road to the quarterfinals.
Asked if he thought that desperation would make the Scots more motivated, Henry reacted as Australian coach Robbie Deans did in Hong Kong when that Bledisloe Cup match was labelled a "dead rubber".
"We've got tons to play for mate," Henry said.
"I know what it's like every week when we lose - the knives are very, very, very sharp.
"We never go into a test match without having an objective to play the best we can.
"We take that particularly seriously. The team takes it seriously, New Zealand rugby takes it seriously and the three guys up here are paranoid about it," he said while flanked by assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen.
Henry emphasised the generally inexperienced team tasked with maintaining New Zealand's unbeaten record against the Scots was not intended as a slight on their hosts.
It was purely a timely opportunity to introduce Liam Messam, Kieran Read and Jamie Mackintosh plus give other squad members a sense of belonging.
"It's a hell of a good team we think," the coach said of a lineup basically pencilled in before the team left Auckland.
"We're excited about their potential, and in the back of our minds we've got six games in five weeks and five test matches.
"We have to try and keep our head above water and that's part of our thinking as we select these sides.
"We are also trying to get guys involved in the side as much as possible and we want to get potential All Blacks of the future on the park as well."
The three newcomers fit into that scenario, all having been earmarked for higher honours since representing national age-group sides.
Read was considered unlucky to miss the initial All Blacks squad for the June tests and Tri-Nations while Messam's versatility has long seen him identified as a player of the future.
Mackintosh was another understandable selection for Murrayfield given Woodcock, the first choice loosehead prop, has been managing a chronic foot injury all season.
Scotland has made seven changes to the side who squared a two-test series in Argentina five months ago.
In contrast to New Zealand, coach Frank Hadden has chosen two of Scotland's most experienced players in his back row - though there is an element of risk given blindside Jason White (67 caps) and No 8 Simon Taylor (60) have both been dogged by injury.
Hadden made no bones about fielding his most abrasive pack possible.
"We want a stable platform at the scrum and lineout and physical players in the contact area - players who know how to look after ball and know how to slow down ball," he said, promoting a game plan Henry expected.
"I think they're always very good at the breakdown," he said.
"They'll go in with a real physical presence and try destroy our game there.
"They will try and beat us with their passion and their desire, I think they're visualising that already."
Hadden, meanwhile, was not quite envisaging an historic win despite the All Blacks resting a number of key players.
"I don't think your optimism increases or decreases all that much, but I would say we feel we have the right to go into the game with some confidence.
"If we perform to the level we think we're capable of, we'll get what we deserve."
ALL BLACKS V SCOTLAND
Played: 26; New Zealand won 24; Scotland won 0; 2 drawn
Points scored: New Zealand 744, Scotland 285
First test: New Zealand 12 Scotland 7 at Edinburgh, Nov 18 1905
Latest test: New Zealand 40 Scotland 0 at Edinburgh, Sept 23 2007 (World Cup)
Drawn matches: 0-0 at Edinburgh, Jan 18, 1964; 25-25 at Edinburgh, Nov 12 1983
New Zealand's biggest winning margin: 49 points - New Zealand 69 Scotland 20 at Dunedin, June 24 2000
New Zealand's winning sequence: 14 tests - June 6, 1987 to present day.
All Blacks
Isaia Toeava, Anthony Tuitavake, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Stephen Donald, Piri Weepu, Liam Messam, Adam Thomson, Kieran Read, Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (captain), Jamie Mackintosh.
Reserves: Corey Flynn, Neemia Tialata, Ross Filipo, Richie McCaw, Andy Ellis, Daniel Carter, Cory Jane.
Scotland
Chris Paterson, Thom Evans, Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca, Sean Lamont, Phil Goodman, Mike Blair (captain), Simon Taylor, John Barclay, Jason White, Jim Hamilton, Nathan Hines, Euan Murray, Ross Ford, Allan Jacobson.
Reserves: Dougie Hall, Alasdair Dickinson, Matt Mustchin, Scott Gray, Rory Lawson/Mark McMillan, Dan Parks, Hugo Southwell.
- NZPA
