KEY POINTS:
It was the proud beam and handshake which signified another promotion for Keven Mealamu after the All Blacks completed their first training run after making it to Scotland.
The 29-year-old hooker will captain the All Blacks for the first time this week to crown a startling change in
his personal fortunes after he had seen regular rake Andrew Hore return home with a shin injury after just four minutes of action in Hong Kong.
Mealamu will lead a side with just three players, fullback Isaia Toeava, five-eighths Stephen Donald and lock Ali Williams, asked to start consecutive tests as the Grand Slam part of the All Black tour starts this Sunday.
There are three new caps, all forwards, with Kieran Read and Liam Messam beginning in the loose forwards and Jamie Mackintosh draping the black No 1 jersey over his massive frame for the first time, while there is the featured return after a lengthy injury break for Joe Rokocoko on the wing.
With coach Graham Henry and his cohorts determined to get most of the remainder of the squad into action this weekend, the focus was all about who would escape the cull and who would lead the side. Williams was a candidate but also a gamble, Piri Weepu would have come into discussions while it was probably asking too much of Read to debut and also lead the team.
With other experienced troops like Mils Muliaina, Greg Somerville and Leon MacDonald not with the team, Mealamu was the most seasoned player left who had also had some captaincy experience, albeit a tough season when he led the Blues.
After tour captain Richie McCaw, Mealamu is the next most senior player in the 35-strong end-of-year party after ticking off his 61st test appearance in the 19-14 victory against the Wallabies in Hong Kong.
The latest selection leaves Cory Jane, Andy Ellis, Scott Waldrom, Ross Filipo, Jason Eaton, Ben Franks and Corey Flynn as those who have yet to start in either of the two matches so far.
Lock Anthony Boric will collect his ninth test cap in what will be just his third start when he reacquaints himself with Ali Williams in a combination which should also repeat for the Blues in the Super 14 series.
Boric said he was hanging out for some extended play, it was always very special although he admitted he knew little about his Scottish rivals. The most critical part of early practice was making sure they had the set-piece lineout and scrum drills sorted and learning the plays which would be used at Murrayfield this weekend.
The new players would bring enthusiasm and excitement to the All Blacks and the secret would be to channel that energy and enthusiasm against a Scottish side attempting to build on the work of their pack to gain a historic first win against the All Blacks.
"That's the sort of style they look to play and we will have to be very physical in that area to counter them - the set piece has got to be huge for us ... " Boric said.
Boric thought the lineouts would be more difficult to master in the short lead-in than the scrums. The side had tried to steer away from talk about any possible Grand Slam, which had only rarely been achieved by the All Blacks, and this side was just concentrating on getting their game together this weekend.
It was their opportunity to demand further games on tour, to offer selection alternatives to any pre-tour concepts held by the coaching staff.
Conditions in the first part of the week have been cool but fine in Edinburgh although there is some rain in the long-range forecast around the early evening kickoff this weekend.
All Blacks
Isaia Toeava, Anthony Tuitavake, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Stephen Donald, Piri Weepu, Liam Messam, Adam Thomson, Kieran Read, Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (captain), Jamie Mackintosh.
Reserves: Corey Flynn, Neemia Tialata, Ross Filipo, Richie McCaw, Andy Ellis, Daniel Carter, Cory Jane.
Scotland
Chris Paterson, Thom Evans, Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca, Sean Lamont, Phil Goodman, Mike Blair (captain), Simon Taylor, John Barclay, Jason White, Jim Hamilton, Nathan Hines, Euan Murray, Ross Ford, Allan Jacobson.
Reserves: Dougie Hall, Alasdair Dickinson, Matt Mustchin, Scott Gray, Rory Lawson/Mark McMillan, Dan Parks, Hugo Southwell.
