All Blacks Named to Face Japan!

As expected, the All Blacks have named a largely experimental side to face Japan this Saturday - at the unusual kickoff time of 6:30pm New Zealand time - it'll be 2:30pm local time.

Indeed, there are players in unusual places with Richie McCaw captaining the side from the number 8 position - he has played there before - and Charles Piutau moving to wing with Beauden Barrett playing at fullback - he has played there before with aplomb.

Dan Carter and Richie McCaw were probably meant to join the likes of Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Ma'a Nonu and Kieran Read etc. in the team to play in Paris but having not played much in the last few weeks, the coaches decided to play both against Japan in a bid for them to get game time that they need.

There will be several new caps with Dominic Bird and Frank Halai getting theirs from the start, and Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen and Luke Whitelock set to get theirs off the bench.

This team should beat Japan fairly easily even without many of the first choice starters and it's a good opportunity to blood talent in the right spots.

Wyatt Crockett
Dane Coles
Ben Franks
Jeremy Thrush
Dominic Bird
Steven Luatua
Sam Cane
Richie McCaw (captain)
Tawera Kerr-Barlow
Dan Carter
Frank Halai
Francis Sai'ili
Ben Smith
Charles Piutau
Beauden Barrett

SUBS:
Andrew Hore
Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen
Charlie Faumuina
Brodie Retallick
Luke Whitelock
Aaron Smith
Tom Taylor
Ryan Crotty