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LONDON - The All Blacks announcement barely raised a murmur when Graham Henry rolled out his tried and tested for the culmination of New Zealand's assault on a rugby Grand Slam at Twickenham here today.
The team naming formalities were always going to be about England - and
how manager Martin Johnson would react to the galling 42-6 defeat his side suffered against South Africa last weekend.
He made three changes to the side mauled by the world champions with the demotion of first five-eighth Danny Cipriani to reserves bench the obvious talking point.
Cipriani, touted as a new improved Johnny Wilkinson, has been spared the All Blacks initial onslaught on Sunday (NZT) after Johnson sought to spare his playmaker's fragile temperament even more damage as New Zealand eye a clean sweep of the Home Unions and Ireland.
The 21-year-old cut a forlorn figure as he was booed off Twickenham last weekend - the low point of his match was a charged down clearance that enabled Ruaan Pienaar to score.
He has now given away three tries from charged-down kicks in five tests - a grim statistic for any side.
Toby Flood replaces Cipriani in the No 10 jersey. In other changes Michael Lipman replaces Tom Rees on the openside flank and Nick Kennedy comes in for Tom Palmer in the second row after Richie McCaw's former schoolmate failed to recover from a calf strain.
The test will be a special occasion for former Wellington, Hurricanes and New Zealand Maori utility back Riki Flutey, who was confirmed at second five eighth despite tweaking a hamstring 32 minutes into the Springboks match.
Flutey, who will earn his forth cap, joins former Canterbury looseforward Matt Mustchin - now of Scotland - in playing a test against his homeland on this tour. England's reserve hooker Dylan Hartley was also born in New Zealand.
Henry, meanwhile, unveiled his 15th - and final - 22-man squad of a season that has already been a personal and collective success, 13 months on from the All Blacks quarterfinal demise at the last World Cup.
To emphasise Henry's change in mindset since the presiding over the worst ever finish by New Zealand at the sport's global showcase the concept of rotation was again non-existent as he named the strongest avail able team for the encounter against a rebuilding England.
After wheeling out his optimum line-up since the midway point of the Tri-Nations, Henry and assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen have understandably kept faith in the side that is yet to concede a try - or a point after halftime - on the European leg of their end of year tour.
Centre was again the only area of mild speculation but unsurprisingly Conrad Smith has been restored after resting a long-term groin strain he aggravated against Ireland on November 15.
His return means able deputy Richard Kahui - an impressive presence against Scotland and again against Wales last weekend - watches from the stands.
With the available personnel all fully fit, barring the standard bumps and bruises, the composition of the pack was non-negotiable.
Ali Williams is the only All Black to start the five tests on tour - while hooker Keven Mealamu had virtually the same workload after entering the fray four minutes into the offshore Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies in Hong Kong for an injured Andrew Hore.
Henry reiterated early in the tour his belief that elite players could not be expected to perform at optimum levels if asked to turn out for three successive tests - though the exceptions he made for two of his pack leaders was justified.
While Henry, named International Rugby Board coach of the year for the third time on Monday, could relax when naming his side, the atmosphere was not as laidback at the English team naming at their base in Surrey.
Johnson unveiled his team with the damning words of his former coach Sir Clive Woodward, the coach who led England to World Cup glory in 2003, ringing in his ears.
"I never thought I'd see the day that any team would come to Twickenham and win by 40 points, or put on 40 points," he said of the defeat to South Africa.
"It was a fairly accurate scoreline, so you have to take a step back and look behind the scenes - at the coaching and the management of the team. What's happened since 2003? Where has the development of players gone? The England team since 2003 has just generally been going down a slippery slope."
All Blacks
Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Hikawera Elliot, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Kieran Read, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava.
England
Delon Armitage, Paul Sackey, Jamie Noon, Riki Flutey, Ugo Monye, Toby Flood, Danny Care, Tim Payne, Lee Mears, Phil Vickery, Steve Borthwick, Nick Kennedy, James Haskell, Michael Lipman, Nick Easter.
Reserves:Dylan Hartley, Matt Stevens, Tom Croft, Tom Rees, Harry Ellis, Danny Cipriani, Dan Hipkiss.
- NZPA
