All Blacks: Hoeata to partner Williams at lock

Jarrad Hoeata could be rewarded for his work at the University Oval yesterday by making his All Black debut on Friday. Photo / Getty Images

Lock Jarrad Hoeata will make his test debut alongside a clutch of other Highlanders when the All Blacks start their World Cup year on Friday at Carisbrook.

The only uncapped player in the latest All Black squad, Hoeata trained yesterday alongside comeback lock Ali Williams in a pairing set to test Fiji in the match designed to also help victims of the Christchurch earthquakes.

In each of their eight seasons in charge, except for the last World Cup campaign, coaches Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have chosen at least one new player to start every year.

Three have been locks - James Ryan, Greg Rawlinson and Isaac Ross - and Hoeata will continue that pattern on his adopted home track in Dunedin.

He is likely to have familiar faces around him as Highlander buddies Jimmy Cowan, Colin Slade and Adam Thomson were all running in the likely starting XV yesterday.

For some reason, the side will be announced on email early today, but it is likely to be light in Crusaders content after their gruelling Super 15 campaign.

Only captain Richie McCaw who needs games after his foot injury, wing Zac Guildford and prop Ben Franks from that franchise look as though they will start.

McCaw's selection alongside fullback Mils Muliaina means the pair will play their 95th test together.

Guildford has to play on the wing because of the rising injury list in the back three, while either Sitiveni Sivivatu or perhaps Highlander Ben Smith, from the standby group of players, will start on the other flank.

Slade's recovery from his second broken jaw should continue with his second test selection with reserve backup from Daniel Carter.

"I think the way we trained today I will be looking for a wee spot on the bench or a wee rest," Carter admitted.

The session at Carisbrook had been quite lengthy but the side had made a valuable start. He felt mentally refreshed after a rare rest from rugby last week.

"At these early stages of the All Black camp we need to walk through and talk through a lot of stuff, so it was a pretty stop-start session but we will need that clarity come Friday night."

A number of players in the 34-strong squad, particularly the Crusaders who are not required for the match 22, will go home to spend more time with their families.

They will be there before Fiji arrive in Dunedin later today after spending time at home freshening after the Pacific Nations tournament.

When they arrive, the weather is predicted to change with the rain and cooler temperatures also likely to restrict the crowd of about 10,000 who have bought tickets to this last test at Carisbrook.

All Blacks Cory Jane, Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava, Richard Kahui, Hosea Gear, Andy Ellis and Tony Woodcock are understood to have been ruled out for this test as they continue to recover from injury.

Smith would like to start or get a run from the bench to ease some of the memories of his only test against Italy in Milan two years ago.

"I have learned from that and moved on, hopefully," he said.

"I learned that at the end of the day it is just another game of rugby and that you just have to play your own game and get stuck in and do whatever you can to contribute to the team."

Smith claimed a sevens gold medal this year at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and wants to nail a World Cup place as well.

LIKELY ALL BLACKS XV

15 - Mils Muliaina
14 - Zac Guildford
13 - Conrad Smith
12 - Ma'a Nonu
11 - Sitiveni Sivivatu
10 - Colin Slade
9 - Jimmy Cowan
8 - Liam Messam
7 - Richie McCaw
6 - Adam Thomson
5 - Ali Williams
4 - Jarrad Hoeata
3 - John Afoa
2 - Andrew Hore
1 - Ben Franks