Piri Weepu will lead New Zealand for the first time against Munster at Thomond Park on Tuesday.
Wellington scrum-half receives armband for Thomond Park encounter
Piri Weepu will lead New Zealand for the first time against Munster at Thomond Park on Tuesday.
The game will also be special for Tasman prop Ben Franks and Taranaki flanker Scott Waldrom, as they are set to make their full debuts for the All Blacks, while there are two more prospective newcomers on the bench in Hawkes Bay hooker Hikawera Elliott and Wellington scrum-half Alby Mathewson.
The match against European champions Munster marks the official opening of their renovated Limerick stadium.
Special occasion
Looking forward to the game, All Blacks coach Graham Henry said: "The Munster match will be a special occasion for the team, and the guys are really looking forward to visiting Limerick.
"The team also knows that it will be a hard, physical match against the European club champions."
The All Blacks line-up includes just one player - wing Joe Rokocoko - who started Saturday's 22-3 victory over Ireland in Dublin, but it contains eight players who started New Zealand's 32-6 triumph against Scotland at Murrayfield earlier this month.
Following the Munster game, the New Zealand squad will then arrive in Cardiff on Wednesday afternoon to prepare for next Saturday's Test match against Wales in which they protect a 55-year unbeaten record against the current RBS 6 Nations champions.
Team: C Jane; H Gear, A Tuitavake, I Toeava, J Rokocoko; S Donald, P Weepu (capt); J Mackintosh, C Flynn, B Franks, R Filipo, J Eaton, A Thomson, S Waldrom, L Messam
Replacements: H Elliott, J Afoa, B Thorn, K Read, A Mathewson, R Kahui, M Muliaina
