Young flyer Toeava joins elite band

Teenager Isaia Toeava will enrol in several special categories this weekend when he makes his All Black test debut at Murrayfield.

The youngster joins a distinctive group of those who qualify as All Blacks and a more elite list of those who have worn the famous black jersey before they have blown out 20 candles.

Toeava's selection for the final Grand Slam challenge against Scotland confirmed coach Graham Henry's pledge that he would develop players as part of his strategy for the 2007 World Cup.

That was further reinforced with only captain Tana Umaga and lock Chris Jack backing up after the brutal inquest from England.

Umaga will move to second five-eighths to hook up again with his Wellington team-mate Conrad Smith.

Angus Macdonald will make his run-on debut at blindside flanker after coming off the bench against Wales, and there is another chance for Nick Evans to show he can run a game from first five-eighths and kick goals.

Halfback Jimmy Cowan and hooker Andrew Hore are in the reserves and are the only two players not to get a test start on tour.

Flanker Richie McCaw and hooker Anton Oliver have been cleared to play after injuries eliminated them from selection for the England test.

Aaron Mauger with a shoulder problem and Tony Woodcock with a family emergency were the only two players not considered.

After a month of training with the All Blacks, Toeava was the only member of the 35-strong squad who had not taken the field during the wins against Wales, Ireland and England.

But that changed when the utility back was picked at fullback for the test against Scotland.

He will become the 12th player to be a teenage All Black. He will be 19 years and 315 days on debut and follows Jonah Lomu, who was the last and also the youngest to make the exclusive teenage brigade.

In what could be a magic weekend for the Auckland youngster, Toeava has also been nominated for the IRB under-19 player of the year award in Paris on Sunday.

The utility back starred at the age-group world championship in South Africa this year.

There were perhaps two selection surprises for this test against Scotland where victory and a Grand Slam success should be a formality.

Sione Lauaki has been given a chance at No 8 rather than Mose Tuiali'i in what seems to be a generous selection given their form on this trip.

Tuiali'i played soundly against Ireland while Lauaki drifted in his work at blindside flanker and perhaps Lauaki is facing an ultimatum about his impact this weekend.

There is never any debate about McCaw's quality, but his history of head knocks and troubled recovery in the past couple of seasons makes his choice unusual after his latest trauma.

McCaw complained of nausea after taking a knock to his head during the test win against Ireland and decided he was not fit enough to turn out against England.

He must have persuaded the medical staff he has completely recovered to play this weekend, but his selection seems an unnecessary risk against an unconvincing rival.