The All Blacks will field the oldest side in their test history against the Wallabies at Eden Park on Saturday.

Coach Graham Henry has nailed his World Cup colours to the mast by naming a team of veterans that will closely mirror the starting side in the knockout phase of the World Cup.

Not only will “Ted’s Army” be the most ancient starting XV in the All Blacks’ 477 tests dating back to 1903, they are also the most test-hardened team in rugby history.

But it is the age factor that will cause the most discussion in World Cup year.

Henry, 65, is comfortably the world’s most experienced test coach and, with support from Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, who share more than 20 years of test mentoring between them, the All Blacks of 2011 take on a juggernaut feel.

The starting team has a combined age of 433, eclipsing the sometimes-maligned “Dad’s Army” England side who won the 2003 rugby World Cup final with 423 years under their collective belts.

But has Henry taken the wrinkled theory a step too far?

In his desire to plump for seasoned players, is he clinging on too long to the personnel who have served him so well? Some since his tenure began in 2004.

“I think you have to have a nucleus of experience in the team,” Henry said 12 months ago when quizzed about the ageing nature of his team.

“You pick the best players but usually that correlates to their age.”

One who disagrees is former Wallabies No 8 Toutai Kefu, who yesterday said  this year’s All Blacks are lacking fresh talent.

“At first I didn’t think it would be a problem but some of the key players, their stars, are starting to wane a bit,” Kefu said.

“The thing with them is they have been there done that, they’ve been consistent for so long.

“If there’s a time for us to challenge for the mantle I think this year is the time.”

Saturday’s All Blacks have an average age of just under 29, lifting them past the previous oldest All Blacks starting XV who lost to the Wallabies at Athletic Park in 1982.

That side was captained by Graham Mourie and featured grizzled veterans such as Andy Haden and the “Geriatrics” front row of John Ashworth, Andy Dalton and Gary Knight.

Evergreen lock Brad Thorn, at 36, is the current father figure and on Saturday moves past Frank Bunce to become the second oldest All Black. He is one of four starting forwards in their 30’s, alongside Keven Mealamu (32), Richie McCaw and Ali Williams (both 30). It would probably be five if veteran prop Tony Woodcock was fit to start.

A senior citizen status also rings true among the outside back division.

At the helm of our oldest starting backline is Mils Muliaina, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Sunday, becoming just the fourth All Blacks starting fullback to hit that milestone.

The back three of Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Hosea Gear have a combined age of 87, bettered by just one trio – Wellington icons Allan Hewson, Stu Wilson and Bernie Fraser, in the death throes of their career against Australia in 1983.

At a combined age of 58, Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu are the oldest midfield since Bunce and Walter Little in 1997.

In the pack, 2003 World Cup buddies Thorn and Williams are our oldest-ever locking combo by a country mile while McCaw is the oldest to don the No 7 jersey since Ian Kirkpatrick in 1977 and Mealamu the oldest hooker since Sean  Fitzpatrick retired 14 years ago.

The baby of the team plays at tighthead prop, traditionally the most gnarled member of any side. Yet Owen Franks is just 23.

Another curiosity is that McCaw will have led both the youngest and oldest ever All Blacks starting teams.

His first test as skipper, against Wales at Cardiff in 2004, featured a team with an average age of 23-1/2. Their 353 combined years scraped under the previous mark of 356 set by the revamped “Baby Blacks” who played France in 1986.

Alongside McCaw at Cardiff for the narrow 26-25 win were several teammates in Saturday’s test – Muliaina, Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Williams and Mealamu.

A week later the nucleus of that team hammered France 45-6, effectively launching Henry’s eight-year dynasty.

Oldest All Blacks starting XV, v Australia at Auckland, August 6, 2011
Mils Muliaina (31), Sitiveni Sivivatu (29), Conrad Smith (29), Ma’a Nonu (29), Hosea Gear (27), Dan Carter (29), Piri Weepu (27), Kieran Read  (25), Richie McCaw (30), Jerome Kaino (28), Ali Williams (30), Brad Thorn (36), Owen Franks (23), Keven Mealamu (32), Wyatt Crockett (28).

Previous oldest starting XV, v Australia at Wellington, August 28, 1982
Allan Hewson (28), Stu Wilson (28), Bernie Fraser (29), Steve Pokere (24), Mark Taylor (31), Wayne Smith (25), Dave Loveridge (30), Murray Mexted (28), Graham Mourie (29), Mark Shaw (26), Graeme Higginson (27), Andy Haden (31), Gary Knight (31), Andy Dalton (30), John Ashworth (32).

Youngest All Blacks starting XV, v Wales at Cardiff, November 20, 2004
Mils Muliaina (24), Doug Howlett (26), Joe Rokocoko (21), Casey Laulala (22), Aaron Mauger (23), Dan Carter (22), Piri Weepu (21), Mose Tuiali’i (23), Richie McCaw (23), Rodney So’oialo (25), Ali Williams (23), Chris Jack (26), Greg Somerville (26), Keven Mealamu (25), Tony Woodcock (23).

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