Sonny Bill Williams will play his first Rugby Championship Test of the year and prop Angus Ta’avao looks set to make his debut off the bench after Steve Hansen named a much-changed All Blacks team for their clash against Argentina on Sunday (12.40am).
The All Blacks coach made seven changes to the matchday squad that lost at home to the Springboks two weeks ago for the match against the Pumas at Velez Sarsfeld, where New Zealand could wrap up a third successive title.
Lock Sam Whitelock will lead the side in place of rested captain Kieran Read, while his brother Luke stands in for the No.8 in the back row.
Ofa Tuungafasi starts in place of Owen Franks at tighthead prop with uncapped Ta’avao, who came into the squad earlier in the championship as injury cover for Joe Moody, named among the replacements.
Shannon Frizell will win his fourth cap at blindside flanker in place of Liam Squire, who has been ruled out for the rest of the championship with a hand injury.
Damian McKenzie returned to New Zealand after a family bereavement, forcing one change to a backline that will include Williams for only the second time this year.
Williams injured his shoulder in the third Test against France in June after missing the first two with a knee problem.
The 33-year-old slots back in at inside centre with Ryan Crotty moving out to take the No. 13 shirt, while TJ Perenara starts at scrumhalf, Waisake Naholo gets a run on the wing and Ben Smith is fullback.
All Blacks:
15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Sam Whitelock (captain), 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Replacements:
16 Nathan Harris, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Aaron Smith, 22 Richie Mo’unga, 23Anton Lienert-Brown.