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Wellington - Eighthman Kieran Read will make a comeback from injury and fullback Mils Muliaina has been selected to start his 99th Test in the All Blacks team to play Canada at the Rugby World Cup on Sunday.
Read missed New Zealand's first three matches in Pool A with an ankle injury sustained in the late stages of this season's Tri-Nations tournament. Though he slightly aggravated the injury in training on Wednesday, he has been passed fit to play his 34th Test for New Zealand and his first at a Rugby World Cup.
Muliaina appears to have been displaced by Israel Dagg as New Zealand's No 1 fullback but he has been given the chance against Canada to close in on his 100th Test appearance, a milestone achieved by skipper Richie McCaw against France last weekend.
The team announced by the All Blacks on Friday also features the selection of Zac Guildford on the left wing for what will be his first World Cup appearance. Guildford has not been included in New Zealand's squad for any of their previous pool matches and appeared at a news conference earlier this month to apologise for breaches of team alcohol policy.
Dagg moves from fullback to the right wing after overcoming a minor injury and in the absence of Richard Kahui, who has a hamstring strain, and Cory Jane, who has a head knock.
Sonny Bill Williams will start at inside center, breaking up the midfield partnership between Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu, who has been left out of the match 22.
Dan Carter will play his 85th Test at flyhalf, pairing with Jimmy Cowan who returns at scrumhalf to play his 50th Test.
In the forwards, Andrew Hore at hooker and Ali Williams at lock have been promoted to the starting XV.
The All Blacks have already qualified for the quarter-finals but coach Graham Henry said the match against Canada is a chance to carry momentum into the tournament's knockout rounds.
"We are looking to improve each week during the Rugby World Cup, with an increase in intensity and execution, and we will be looking to do that again this week," said Henry.
"Having said that, the Canadians have shown in this Rugby World Cup just what they are capable of, including a good win over Tonga and the hard-fought draw against Japan, so we are expecting a passionate contest."
New Zealand have played Canada four times, including twice at a Rugby World Cup, winning all four contests.
Teams:
New Zealand:
15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guilford, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock
Substitutes: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Brad Thorn, 19 Anthony Boric, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Isaia Toeava
Canada:
15 Matt Evans, 14 Conor Trainor, 13 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Ryan Smith, 11 Phil Mackenzie, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Ed Fairhurst, 8 Aaron Carpenter, 7 Chauncey O'Toole, 6 Adam Kleeberger, 5 Jamie Cudmore, 4 Jebb Sinclair, 3 Jason Marshall, 2 Pat Riordan (captain), 1 Hubert Buydens
Substitutes: 16 Ryan Hamilton, 17 Scott Franklin, 18 Andrew Tiedemann, 19 Tyler Hotson, 20 Nanyak Dala, 21 Sean White, 22 Nathan Hirayama
