Sam Cane will captain New Zealand for the first time in Thursday’s World Cup meeting with Namibia.
The All Blacks’ head coach, Steve Hansen, has made 12 changes from the side that beat Pool C rivals Argentina on Sunday. Only the wings Nehe Milner-Skudder and Julian Savea remain, along with the lock Sam Whitelock.
The starting line-up features the centre Sonny Bill Williams, the flanker Liam Messam and the No8 Victor Vito, while a powerful bench takes in the team’s regular captain Richie McCaw, the No8 Kieran Read and the centre Ma’a Nonu.
With McCaw, the hooker Keven Mealamu and the prop Tony Woodcock on bench duty, it means that New Zealand have three cap-centurions among their substitutes, which would be a World Cup record.
Hansen paid tribute to Cane, who leads his country at the age of 23.
“It is a very special moment for Sam,” Hansen told www.allblacks.com, in the run-up to the match at the Olympic Stadium in London.
“He is in our leadership group, is hugely respected by everyone, is a fierce and fearless player and is someone who has the potential of being a long-term captain of the All Blacks in the future.”
Reflecting on his team selection, Hansen added: “At the completion of this match, 30 of the 31 players in our squad will have experienced time in the middle of the park, which will give us a good foundation base going forward and which was always part of our pre-tournament planning. It’s now their time to step up.”
New Zealand team v Namibia
C Slade; N Milner-Skudder, M Fekitoa, S B Williams, J Savea; B Barrett, T J Perenara; B Franks, C Taylor, C Faumuina, L Romano, S Whitelock, L Messam, S Cane (capt), V Vito.
Replacements: K Mealamu, W Crockett, T Woodcock, K Read, R McCaw, T Kerr-Barlow, M Nonu, B Smith.
