The All Blacks have made a big call! Graham Henry has decided to throw Dan Carter straight into the firing line as he named him in his All Black starting XV that takes on Australia this Saturday in Sydney. Carter comes in at number 10 in place of Stephen Donald who is relegated to the bench. In fairness, Donald has not done much wrong in the Tri-Nations tests so far this term but I guess Henry has decided that Carter may just provide the extra spark the All Blacks need after loosing back to back tests against the Springboks.

Carter has looked good since his return from injury and he has been in great form for Canterbury so I guess there really is no question about his fitness as I am sure he would not have been selected to play if he were not fully fit.

Graham Henry continued to ring the changes to his starting XV for Saturday. Luke McAllister comes in at 12 in place of Ma’a Nonu. I was a bit surprised about this move but I guess Henry has decided that he may need another kicking option at 12 which he will have with McAllister. But reports this morning suggest that McAllister has picked up an injury in training today (Tuesday) and may not be able to start on Saturday which would mean that Nonu would start at 12.

Another big call is the relegation of Rodney So’oialo to the bench as he is replaced by Kieran Read. I would have thought that Rodney would start the test and then have Read come on as an impact player. This is the first time So’oialo has not been the first choice selection since 2005. Could his All Black days be numbered? I do not think so. An inform So’oialo is a great weapon to have for the All Blacks.

I had thought that Henry would drop Joe Rokocoko after his poor display in South Africa but he has stuck with him. My thinking was that Cory Jane may have been drafted in to replace Joey but Jane does not even find a place on the bench.

The team in full is: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Rodney So’oialo, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Ma’a Nonu.