TOKYO (AP) Crusaders lock Dominic Bird and Blues winger Frank Halai will make their All Blacks debuts against Japan at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Two more uncapped players, Hurricanes prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Crusaders flanker Luke Whitelock, were in the reserves chosen on Thursday.
Scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow received his first test start in his 11th test and inside center Francis Saili his second start in a match that New Zealand always planned to showcase its rising talent.
The All Blacks sent 10 players, including uncapped scrumhalf TJ Perenara, to Paris to prepare for the European leg of their four-test tour, and captain Richie McCaw and flyhalf Dan Carter were originally planned to be in that advance party.
But recent injuries to the star pair mean they have a need for playing time and warranted a run in New Zealand's first official test in Japan. McCaw will play at No. 8.
Carter has had a six-week injury layoff, after hurting his shoulder on Sept. 14 in a 29-15 win over the Springboks at Eden Park.
Bird, set to become the tallest All Black at 2.06 meters (6-foot-9), was in the squad for the France series in June until he tore a pectoral muscle. Whitelock is the brother of lock Sam Whitelock, who travelled early to Europe. Toomaga-Allen replaced Joe Moody, who broke his leg last weekend in the national provincial final.
"The three selectors have been very mindful of using this game to gather some more information on our younger players but also using it to provide McCaw and Carter with some game time," coach Steve Hansen said.
"We are expecting the Japanese to be very competitive and it will be important that we respect them and engage them in the physical aspects of the game before attempting to play too much razzle dazzle-type rugby. It's about earning the right to play. If we don't do this, we can get caught up in the type of game that suits them."
The match against Japan sold out in an hour.
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New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Charles Piutau, Ben Smith, Francis Saili, Frank Halai, Dan Carter, Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Richie McCaw (captain), Sam Cane, Steven Luatua, Dominic Bird, Jeremy Thrush, Ben Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Andrew Hore, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Charlie Faumuina, Brodie Retallick, Luke Whitelock, Aaron Smith, Tom Taylor, Ryan Crotty.