Henry picks strongest team for final Test

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes for the third and final Test against the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park on Saturday even though the series is already wrapped up.

The All Blacks have made two enforced changes through injury with Canterbury full-back Leon MacDonald replacing second Test hero Dan Carter at fly-half while Wellington’s Conrad Smith replaces Aaron Mauger in midfield. Prop Carl Hayman and hooker Anton Oliver were not considered due to injury.

On the reserve bench, lock James Ryan replaces Jono Gibbes while Luke McAlister comes in for Ma’a Nonu.

As a result of the changes the All Blacks have been forced to reshuffle their backline with captain Tana Umaga moving to inside centre to accommodate his fellow Hurricane Smith at outside centre.

Henry, whose side will be chasing only the third clean sweep in Lions Test history, is determined the All Blacks will go for the jugular as they attempt to pile further misery on Sir Clive Woodward’s beleaguered side.

“We are taking the Test very seriously and we have put our best team out on the field,” explained a chirpy Henry. “If Daniel [Carter] had been fit he would have obviously been in the side. But we are making some progress and we are pleased with the progress we are making. We think we can still move further up the graph. So we had a policy in team selection to pick our best team to play in this Test match.

“I think the challenge is to get the guys up physically. They are very sore as they have played two huge Tests within a couple of weeks. They had a very physical encounter last week. We have to give them sufficient rest so they can play fairly well on Saturday.”

The Lions are still reeling from last weekend’s record second Test 48-18 defeat at Westpac Stadium but Henry still believes there is room for improvement among All Blacks ranks.

“We’ve got things to work on,” he said. “We didn’t start the game very well, our heads weren’t right really. We wanted to play well, we were physically there but weren’t quite there upstairs and we need to learn from that situation.”

Carter, who scored a match-winning 33 points in the second Test, will be a tough act to follow but New Zealand backs coach Wayne Smith has no doubts MacDonald can slot seamlessly into the crucial role of fly-half.

“We see him as a similar style player to Daniel Carter,” explained Smith. “He is physically strong, he’s a good defender, he brings the line up fast and he’s very tactical in attack and a good runner, so it gives us a very similar type of player.

“As far as playing there, he hasn’t played there a lot for six months but he came from a season of playing there in Japan. We feel he is the right man at this point in this team and he has a great opportunity to move forward to reinforce the fact that he is a good player and good cover for Daniel.”

The toughest selection dilemma according to Henry was at half-back where Byron Kelleher got the nod ahead of arch rival Justin Marshall who will be heading for Leeds Tykes next season.

“It was the most difficult decision to make,” confirmed Henry, “Justin will play – he will finish the Test match which we think is very important. He’s been a great player for the All Blacks over the last decade and we’re trying to achieve two objectives really. One is to play well in this Test match and I’m sure he will help in doing that, and secondly we want to give him a big farewell. He may play again for the All Blacks so it may not be a farewell, who knows?”

New Zealand team for third Test in Auckland: Mils Muliaina; Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Tana Umaga (capt), Rico Gear; Byron Kelleher, Leon MacDonald; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Greg Somerville, Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw, Rodney So’oialo.

Reserves: Derren Witcombe, Campbell Johnstone, James Ryan, Sione Lauaki, Justin Marshall, Luke McAlister, Doug Howlett.