Cruden gets nod for All Blacks

Aaron Cruden will start at numebr 10 against England on Sunday. Photo / Greg Bowker

Aaron Cruden has been given the nod over both Dan Carter and Beauden Barrett for the All Blacks No10 jersey against England at Twickenham on Sunday (NZT).

Cruden is one of only four players to retain their starting positions from the big victory over the USA in Chicago. The others are second-five Sonny Bill Williams, who was selected ahead of Malakai Fekitoa and Ryan Crotty, and No8 Kieran Read and fullback Israel Dagg.

For Cruden it is confirmation that he has won over the selectors after his time-keeping lapse in Auckland which led to him missing out on the tests against Argentina and South Africa. He played well against the Eagles at Soldier Field, apart from his goalkicking - he was successful with four from nine attempts - but coach Steve Hansen is backing him to bounce back in this department too.

Asked if he was happy with how Cruden responded from his recent setback, Hansen said: "You wouldn't expect him not to. He's a good rugby player. He drives the team well, he's one of the leaders in the group. He's been leading well since he's been back."

England at home is a big step up from the USA, a tier two rugby nation, and that is why Carter, who began his comeback from injury with 30 minutes last weekend, is not involved this week. Barrett is on the bench, along with the reliable Ryan Crotty.

Fekitoa has been given another week off to rest after what Hansen described as a "massive" season for the Highlanders midfielder.

Barrett will be injected into the game in the second half, the selectors going back to their preferred combination of Cruden setting the agenda and Barrett attempting to break things open later in the game.

"Bringing someone on that can inject guile and genuine pace like he does has been really effective for us. I'm expecting him to be able to do that again on Saturday," Hansen said.

Asked about Carter's fitness following his return from a broken leg and a nerve problem, Hansen said: "Dan's fitness is fine, he just hasn't played enough rugby to play in a match like this."

Jerome Kaino will start at blindside flanker ahead of Liam Messam, who has been named on the bench.

"Both of them are playing well. It's good, it allows us to freshen them up and keep them sharp. Jerome is going to have a big day... those two guys complement each other so Liam will get on the park at some stage."

Crotty's selection on the bench was a reward for his consistency and reliability, Hansen said.

"He just does the right things at the right time and sometimes at the end of a game you need that.

"He's continually improving all the time.. he's a little bit like Conrad [Smith], he's an unsung hero."

Flanker Sam Cane picked up a back injury at training but wouldn't have been picked anyway.

All Blacks (test caps in brackets)
15. Israel Dagg (45)
14. Ben Smith (35)
13. Conrad Smith (83)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (20)
11. Julian Savea (30)
10. Aaron Cruden (36)
9. Aaron Smith (36)
8. Kieran Read (70)
7. Richie McCaw (c) (134)
6. Jerome Kaino (54)
5. Sam Whitelock (60)
4. Brodie Retallick 34)
3. Owen Franks (65)
2. Dane Coles (24)
1. Wyatt Crockett (33)

Reserves:
16. Keven Mealamu (121)
17. Ben Franks (39)
18. Charlie Faumuina (24)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (5)
20. Liam Messam (37)
21. TJ Perenara (8)
22. Beauden Barrett (26)
23. Ryan Crotty (10)