LONDON – New Zealand have named their squad to play Tonga at St James Park in Newcastle on Friday with veteran captain Richie McCaw sitting out the match with a niggly hip injury.
But while the inspirational captain will watch from the sidelines at St James Park, normally a football haunt on the weekends, centre Ma’a Nonu will notch up his 100th test cap in black after being named to start alongside partner-in-crime Conrad Smith.
Coach Steve Hansen has made a number of changes to the team that took care of Georgia last week with Sam Cane replacing McCaw at openside for the second time during the tournament and Luke Romano sliding in for Brodie Retallick who moves to the bench.
As mentioned before, Nonu returns to the starting line up in place of Sonny Bill Williams while Nehe Milner-Skudder returns on the right wing with Waisake Naholo moving to the left.
New Zealand team to play Tonga
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Sam Whitelock
5. Luke Romano
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Sam Cane
8. Kieran Read (c)
9. Aaron Smith
10. Dan Cater
11. Waisake Naholo
12. Ma’a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
15. Ben Smith
Reserves
16. Keven Mealamu, 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Ben Franks 19. Brodie Retallick 20. Liam Messam 21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Sonny Bill Williams
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