New All Blacks coach Robertson names McKenzie at outhalf, Perenara at scrumhalf in team to play England

Robertson has had a long time to let selection ideas percolate: he was named to succeed Ian Foster as head coach months before last year’s World Cup and has had to wait more than a year to name his first lineup.

10 NOD: New Zealand's Damian McKenzie scores a try during the Rugby World Cup 2023.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has named Damian McKenzie at outhalf and veteran T.J. Perenara at scrumhalf in the first team of his tenure to play England in the first test at Dunedin on Saturday.

The New Zealand team Robertson announced on Thursday is the first of 14 he will name this year for tests over the next 21 weeks, beginning with two tests again England and one against Fiji in San Diego.