KEY POINTS:
The midfield that sizzled on the fields of Europe last year has been reunited as the All Blacks today unveiled a near-full strength team for their opening rugby World Cup match here on Saturday.
Italy will have to contend with second five-eighth Luke McAlister and centre Conrad Smith, who have become virtual strangers since forging a beautiful alliance last November, due mainly to Smith's injury battles.
Other notable facets of coach Graham Henry's first team of the tournament is the naming of Doug Howlett on the right wing ahead of Joe Rokocoko and Keven Mealamu starting at hooker ahead of Anton Oliver.
Sione Lauaki is included on the bench and his impact will be of real interest as the bulldozing loose forward could become a real strike weapon as the tournament unfolds.
There are four changes from the team who started New Zealand's last test, the 26-12 defeat of Australia in Auckland seven weeks ago to retain the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations Trophy.
Howlett is in for Rokocoko, Mealamu for Oliver, Ali Williams replaces injured lock Keith Robinson and Smith makes his long-awaited start ahead of Isaia Toeava.
Otherwise Henry's clear intention is to burst from the blocks with his strongest personnel, hoping to lay down a marker in potentially their most difficult pool C assignment.
Smith has been bedevilled by injury since starting alongside McAlister in the rout of Wales at Cardiff on November 25. Two weeks earlier the pair were devastating in the record 47-3 embarrassment of France at Lyon.
While McAlister has gone on this season to secure the mantle of first-choice No 12 from Aaron Mauger, Smith's recuperation from hamstring problems meant he has had to watch while the rising Toeava has shown his wares.
Skilled Wellingtonian Smith has tasted one reserve bench appearance, alongside McAlister in the last seven minutes of the Tri-Nations defeat of South Africa at Christchurch.
Coincidence or not, it was during that period that New Zealand roared in for a clutch of tries, breaking open a tight fixture.
Smith had no qualms about a lack of top rugby this year on the eve of his 10th test, saying he felt ready to slot straight back.
"When you get to this sort of situation, it makes it all worthwhile," he said.
"It's the toughest thing about being injured, you see the team playing and you feel like you're losing ground.
"Luckily you have a lot of support from the guys around you who have been in the same position or been through some of these things.
"I'm definitely in my best shape this year, and probably of my career."
Smith has a proven track record at starting "cold" in tests.
The Lyon test was his first start after recuperating from a broken leg suffered early last year but he showed no sign of it when he scorched 60m to score.
His only test against Italy was his test debut, at Rome three years ago, where he crossed with his first touch of the ball.
The mobile Mealamu's selection may represent a change of thinking from Henry, who has preferred Oliver to start the major tests this year because of his scrummaging ability.
If the ball goes Howlett's way he could go close to Christian Cullen's All Blacks test tryscoring record of 46.
Howlett, who sits on 43, wasn't losing sleep over it.
"Of course I'm aware of that possibility, but it is not my main focus. If things go well, the record might just come along," he said.
NZPA
