Aaron Cruden will start at flyhalf in place of Daniel Carter in one of five changes to the All Blacks team for Saturday’s final match of the Tri-Nations rugby series against Australia.

Cruden has played five tests, all as a substitute, since his debut against Ireland in June but earns his first starting role in the absence of Carter, who is recovering from ankle surgery.

Uncapped Canterbury Crusaders flyhalf Colin Slade will take Cruden’s place on the reserves bench.

Israel Dagg will start on the left wing in place of Joe Rokocoko, Piri Weepu replaces Jimmy Cowan at scrumhalf, Owen Franks will start in place of brother Ben at tighthead prop and Victor Vito has been named at blindside flank ahead of Jerome Kaino.

New Zealand clinched its seventh Tri-Nations title in 10 years when it beat South Africa 29-22 in its most recent match in Johannesburg on Aug. 22. It is unbeaten in this year’s tournament.

Cowan and Kaino have been named on the reserves bench along with Slade, Rene Ranger, who is recalled to provide outside backs cover, and lock Anthony Boric, who replaces Sam Whitelock.

New Zealand has 23 points from five wins in the Tri-Nations series while Australia has 10 after last weekend’s 41-39 win over the Springboks, who have seven points.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said the Wallabies would have gained confidence from their win in Bloemfontein.

“The Wallabies will be up for a big game coming off the back of a good away win and playing in front of their home crowd in Sydney, so they will come out firing,” he said.

Flanker Richie McCaw will captain the All Blacks in a test for the 52nd time, moving past Sean Fitzpatrick as the most-capped skipper in New Zealand history.

Henry praised McCaw’s durability and leadership.

“Richie is an outstanding leader and, in my opinion, one of the best players in world rugby and he also is an exemplary ambassador off the field, so we are very fortunate to have him out in front of this team every week,” he said.

Hooker Keven Mealamu has been named to play his 80th test.

New Zealand will attempt on Saturday to achieve a record 10th-straight win over Australia and their 15th-straight win in all tests. They would also become the first team to win all six matches in a Tri-Nations season.

New Zealand needs 18 points to beat its own record of 179 points in a Tri-Nations series, set by the 2006 All Blacks. They have already scored a record 20 tries this season.

The announcement of the All Blacks team was delayed by the late arrival in Sydney of co-coach Steve Hansen, whose family home on the outskirts of Christchurch was destroyed by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake which struck Canterbury last weekend.

Co-coach Wayne Smith and eight Canterbury All Blacks in the team also suffered some property damage.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Israel Dagg, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Victor Vito, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Jerome Kaino, Jimmy Cowan, Colin Slade, Rene Ranger.

SAPA