Thursday 20 November 2014 17:28, UK
Richie McCaw will become the first rugby union player to captain his country in 100 Tests when he leads out New Zealand against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
McCaw, who has led the All Blacks to 87 wins in his 99 Tests as captain to date, skippers a team that has 12 changes to the side that beat Scotland 24-16 at Murrayfield last weekend.
Ben Smith, Charles Piutau and McCaw are the only players to retain their place in the starting XV.
Dan Carter, who made his first Test start of the year against the Scots, is not included in the match-day squad, nor is Aaron Cruden, who started at 10 in the narrow win over England seven days earlier.
Beauden Barrett will start at fly-half, alongside scrum-half Aaron Smith, who was rested for the Scotland clash.
To get to a hundred caps as captain is something that I'm obviously quite proud of, but you can't do it without a good bunch of people around you, that's something I always bear in mind.
Ben Smith starts a second successive Test at full-back after a Rugby Championship campaign which saw him play in no fewer than three different positions, while Julian Savea and Piutau will play on the wings.
Sonny Bill Williams, who became a father for the first time on Tuesday, partners Conrad Smith in midfield.
In the pack, McCaw is joined in the back row by Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino, while locks Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick return to the second row.
Hooker Dane Coles, who was sin-binned during New Zealand's victory over England, will be flanked by props Wyatt Crockett and Owen Franks in the front row.
McCaw, who also faced Wales in his first match as captain a decade ago, said: "I always just remind myself it's a privilege every time you get to play for and captain the All Blacks. I enjoy doing it and to do it for as long as I have I guess I have had a huge sense of enjoyment and learnt a lot doing it.
"To get to a hundred caps as captain is something that I'm obviously quite proud of, but you can't do it without a good bunch of people around you, that's something I always bear in mind."
All Blacks coach Steven Hansen paid tribute to the three-time IRB player of the year ahead of the game.
"On behalf of the team and myself, we would like to congratulate Richie on the impressive milestone of captaining his country in 100 Test matches," said Hansen, who coached Wales between 2002 and 2004.
"There is no doubt his leadership has grown phenomenally over the years and he is now one of the all-time great leaders of any sports team."
On the clash with Wales, Hansen added: "It's always a great occasion to play at Millennium Stadium, which is one of the great stadiums in the world. We have had a good week's preparation and we are expecting a physical Test with a high ball-in-play time.
"We know we will have to be totally engaged in our own roles for the full 80 minutes and take the game to the Welsh at every opportunity."
New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Charles Piutau, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith; 1 Wyatt Crockett, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Sam Whitelock, 6 Jerome Kaino, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 8 Kieran Read.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Liam Messam, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Ryan Crotty.
