Nonu (shoulder), Colin Slade (hamstring), Beauden Barrett (whiplash) and Liam Messam (calf) have all been left out due to minor injury niggles. Coach Steve Hansen has said that all four are expected to be available for selection next week. Hansen has both Tawera Kerr-Barlow and TJ Perenara on the bench, with Perenara as cover for Dan Carter at first five. See more reaction and analysis to the team naming from the Herald's Patrick McKendry and the Herald on Sunday's Gregor Paul.
Meanwhile Georgia has named a weaker side to play the All Blacks, choosing to concentrate instead on their last pool game against Namibia. After their upset win over Tonga, a victory against the African side would give the eastern Europeans automatic qualification into the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The decision by Georgian coach, New Zealander Milton Haig, to do this is explained in this story by the Herald's Patrick McKendry. Haig has bigger goals in mind.
All Blacks
Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Charlie Faumuina, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Owen Franks, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Malakai Fekitoa.
Georgia
Beka Tsiklauri, Giorgi Aptsiauri, David Kacharava, Tamaz Mchedlidze, Alexandr Todua, Lasha Malaguradze, Giorgi Begadze, Lasha Lomidze, Mamuka Gorgodze (c), Shalva Sutiashvili, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Levan Datunashvili, Levan Chilachava, Shalva Mamukashvili, Karlen Asieshvili. Reserves: Simon Maisuradze, Mikheil Nariashvili, Anton Peikrishvili, Konstantin Mikautadze, Viktor Kolelishvili, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Merab Sharikadze, Muraz Giorgadze.
2. Tomorrow and looking ahead to the weekend
Wales are up against Fiji at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff at 4.45am tomorrow morning (NZ time) and France is playing Canada at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes at 8am. For more information on the teams playing in those games, see yesterday's column.
There are three games on Sunday morning (NZ time), starting with Samoa v. Japan at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes at 2.30am. Then there is South Africa against Scotland at 4.45am at St James' Park in Newcastle, followed by the big one - England v. Australia - at 8am at Twickenham. See more information on the latter two games below.
Monday has two games to look forward to. First we have Argentina against Tonga at Leicester City Stadium at 2.30am, and then Ireland and Italy fight it out at 4.45am at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. There will be more information coming on those games tomorrow.
Australia v. England
The teams for this game have still not officially been announced, but as I reported yesterday speculation over who has been included and excluded in the England team is all over the British papers. Those expected changes in summary are: Jonathan Joseph to replace Sam Burgess at centre after returning from his chest injury, Brad Barritt to return to inside centre and Owen Farrell to remain at first five. In addition to that, Billy Vunipola to be replaced at No 8 by Ben Morgan and Joe Launchbury to start ahead of the injured Courtney Lawes. Ben Youngs, who has been recovering from an ankle injury, is still in doubt.
There is plenty of media coverage building up to this game, including Japanese coach Eddie Jones' thoughts and predictions, the Telegraph pondering the consequences of an English loss on certain members of the home team/management, and the fate of Kiwi-favourite Quade Cooper.
4. South Africa v. Scotland
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has made three changes to his side for their crucial game against Scotland on Sunday. Hooker Bismarck du Plessis is in for Adriaan Strauss, Lodewyk de Jager comes in for Victor Matfield at lock and Jesse Kriel will start at outside-centre instead of Jean de Villiers. De Villiers has returned home to South Africa after fracturing his jaw against Samoa. Halfback Fourie du Preez will captain the Springboks for the first time. The TAB has South Africa paying $1.11 to win, while Scotland is paying $5.75. The Scottish team is yet to be named.
South Africa
Willie Le Roux, JP Pietersen, Jesse Kriel, Damian De Allende, Bryan Habana, Handre Pollard, Fourie du Preez (c), Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Francois Louw, Lodewyk De Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie Du Plessis, Bismarck Du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Frans Malherbe, Pieter-Steph Du Toit, Willem Alberts, Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein.
5. Player rankings
6. Team rankings
7. Standings
EXTRA TIME
Ever wondered about the future of rugby in the world's biggest democracy? No? Well here you go anyway. There is this fascinating read on the BBC about where the oval ball game currently sits in India, its roots in the former British colony, and how a small few are trying to grow the game in a country obsessed with cricket, football and hockey. India is ranked 74th in World Rugby Rankings but with a population of 1.252 billion people I guess anything is possible.
After even more insight into Indian footy? Well there's the hilarious Bollywood rugby film that made headlines here in August. The Herald's Cameron McMillan did a brilliant breakdown of the movie at the time.
