All Blacks 'at 40%' to face England - Henry

New Zealand coach Graham Henry was true to his word today when he named his team to face England in Dunedin on Saturday.

Having repeatedly said the trial last week was just that, he and fellow selectors Steve Hansen, Wayne Smith and Sir Brian Lochore, opted for five of the ‘possibles’ forwards in their new-look All Blacks side.

Jono Gibbes will make his Test debut on the blindside flank alongside Richie McCaw, one of only three forwards – Chris Jack and Keven Mealamu are the others - to have survived from the All Blacks final World Cup match against France, and Xavier Rush.

Others rewarded for their performances at the trial were tighthead prop Carl Hayman and hooker Mealamu.

“It’s a form pack with Carl Hayman, Jono Gibbes and Xavier Rush in particular playing their way into the side on their form in the trial,” Henry said. “It’s quite a big pack, which is an advantage as long as they can put it together“.

Henry was so impressed by Gibbes at the trial that he handed the Chiefs skipper the starting jersey ahead of Jerry Collins, who had been expected to fill the number six spot vacated by former All Blacks captain Reuben Thorne.

“I think Gibbes was probably the star forward of the trial last week, the influence he had in ball-carrying, he was good in the air at the kick-off, he was good at the line-out.

“So all of those things were a factor [in his selection]. I think he’s got a challenge in some other departments of his game. It’s a great opportunity for him.”

The back line has a familiar look about it with Carlos Spencer preferred to Andrew Mehrtens, who missed out altogether, and his Blues team-mates Joe Rokocoko, Mils Muliaina and Doug Howlett were all retained.

Daniel Carter, captain Tana Umaga and Justin Marshall all missed the third-placed play-off against France with injury but were never in doubt to face the world champions.

“There’s an old look about the backline of young players apart from the skip [Umaga] and Los [Carlos Spencer], so I think we’re lucky. They are the best seven at this point in time.”

New caps full-back Nick Evans and centre Sam Tuitupou will start the game from the bench.

Henry admitted it had been a major challenge to prepare the team to face England in the space of a week.

“I haven’t coached international rugby for a while and, after coaching Super 12 and NPC, where you've got a couple of months lead-in to both and you’ve got plenty of time to put all your structures in place, the challenge of this week is trying to do that in a week.

“I think we’ll probably be about 40% when we get to this Test,” said the former Wales and British Lions coach.

New Zealand team to face England: M Muliaina; D Howlett, T Umaga (capt), D Carter, J Rokocoko; C Spencer, J Marshall; K Meeuws, K Mealamu, C Hayman, C Jack, K Robinson, J Gibbes, R McCaw, X Rush.

Replacements: A Hore, T Woodcock, J Collins, M Holah, B Kelleher, N Evans, S Tuitupou.