Henry opts for new blood against Wales

CARDIFF - The All Blacks will boldly open their Grand Slam bid on Sunday (NZT) without both their best player and front-row rock as the selectors put faith in newcomers Chris Masoe and Neemia Tialata.

Coach Graham Henry embarked on his brave new selection journey with the 2007 World Cup uppermost in his mind, naming flanker Masoe and prop Tialata for their test debuts against Wales, and relegating world-class openside Richie McCaw and loosehead Tony Woodcock to the bench.

Otherwise it is close to Henry's top lineup, with Tana Umaga captaining from second five-eighth, hooker Anton Oliver returning from a calf injury for his first test this year and Auckland lock/loose forward Angus Macdonald rewarded for a fine NPC with a chance of becoming the third debutant off the bench.

The starting XV was well-publicised beforehand as Henry shifted the Grand Slam down his priority list, behind playing most of his 35-strong squad in the first two matches in a sink-or-swim scenario.

For Taranaki flanker Masoe and Wellington prop Tialata there are few more imposing debuts than a packed Millennium Stadium of 70,000-plus against the fired-up Six Nations champions.

Both have earned their stripes but got there sooner than expected, former sevens specialist Masoe doing his best impression of a human wrecking ball on attack and defence and Tialata leaving more experienced scrummagers backpedalling.

It cannot have been easy for Henry to tell his two key forwards they were benched.

The payoff for McCaw will be the captaincy against Ireland next weekend when Umaga rests, an extra challenge when there could be up to eight or nine changes to the starting XV.

"To develop depth you have to put new players in the arena," Henry explained. "They'll be stronger for the experience and so will the team."

Hooker Keven Mealamu is being kept on ice for Ireland in Dublin, giving Andrew Hore a bench spot and his first black jersey this year. Only lock Ali Williams was unavailable, due to a shoulder injury, but it is hoped he will return for Ireland.

That Henry is chasing depth is evidenced by the fact only six of the run-on team from the final Tri-Nations test against Australia at Auckland eight weeks ago have retained their starting places.

Just five starters from the 26-25 win over Wales here a year ago will run on again - fullback Mils Muliaina, wing Joe Rokocoko, first five-eighths Daniel Carter, No 8 Rodney So'oialo and lock Chris Jack.

Carter makes a welcome return from a fractured leg suffered against Australia in August, while Canterbury team-mate Aaron Mauger misses out but will likely combine in midfield with Ma'a Nonu against Ireland.

Carter is short on match fitness - Henry's biggest headache as he mulls over what work to put into those resting after the Tri-Nations. So'oialo also took an extended rest and rejoined the tailend of the NPC but was confident after coming through the first training run of the tour.

Wales named their side today. Flanker Martyn Williams is unlikely to be available after the death of his mother.

Coach Mike Ruddock has called up Llanelli Scarlets flanker Dafydd Jones into an injury-hit squad that is already without the services of Lions Gavin Henson, Tom Shanklin, Ryan Jones and Jenkins, while scrum-half Dwayne Peel is battling to overcome an ankle problem.

* All Blacks v Wales, Cardiff, Sunday 5am

Backs:
Mils Muliaina
Rico Gear
Conrad Smith
Tana Umaga (c)
Joe Rokocoko
Daniel Carter
Byron Kelleher

Forwards:
Rodney So'oialo
Chris Masoe
Jerry Collins
James Ryan
Chris Jack
Carl Hayman
Anton Oliver
Neemia Tialata

Reserves:
Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock, Angus Macdonald, Richie McCaw, Jimmy Cowan, Ma'a Nonu, Leon MacDonald.


- NZPA