New and old locks for weakened ABs

21 July 2011 - 01:40 By Sapa-AP
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Jarrad Hoeata is tackled by Owen Franks during a New Zealand All Blacks training session on Monday. Hoeata will make his test debut against Fiji tomorrow Picture: PHIL WALTER/GALLO IMAGES
Jarrad Hoeata is tackled by Owen Franks during a New Zealand All Blacks training session on Monday. Hoeata will make his test debut against Fiji tomorrow Picture: PHIL WALTER/GALLO IMAGES

Jarrad Hoeata will play his first game for the All Blacks tomorrow and Ali Williams his 62nd when the two locks pack down in a New Zealand scrum against Fiji.

But both will feel like debutants because it is more than two years since the 30-year-old Williams has donned the famous black jersey.

Hoeata was named in a weakened New Zealand line-up for the match at Carisbrook, joining Williams, who has battled injury since playing his last test against England in December 2008.

Colin Slade will make his first starting appearance for New Zealand at flyhalf, while Daniel Carter has been named on the bench. Slade made his only previous All Blacks appearance from the bench against Australia last year.

Richie McCaw will captain New Zealand in his 95th test, but several of his Crusaders teammates have been rested after the lengthy Super 15 season which ended with a defeat by the Reds in the final.

Wing Sitiveni Sivivatu has been named in the starting lineup, though he initially missed selection in New Zealand's squad for this match and the following Tri-Nations series. Sivivatu gets his chance because of injuries to Hosea Gear, Israel Dagg and Cory Jane.

Tomorrow's match will be the last to be played at Carisbrook, which has hosted test matches in Dunedin for more than 100 years. Rugby World Cup matches in the South Island city will be played at a newly built, covered stadium.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Liam Messam, Richie McCaw (captain), Adam Thomson, Ali Williams, Jarrad Hoeata, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Piri Weepu, Dan Carter, Ben Smith.

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