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

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.

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.

During that time several key players have left. Six players who started last year’s World Cup final against winners South Africa are unavailable. 

Fullback Will Jordan and former captain Sam Cane are injured, scrumhalf Aaron Smith has retired while Brodie Retallick, Shannon Frizell and outhalf Richie Mo’unga are in Japan.

Robertson faced several challenges, among them a shortage of choice at lock where he had only three options and scrumhalf where his choices were limited by the absence of Cam Roigard who is injured. In contrast he had an abundance of choice in the back row and in the outside backs.

He chose McKenzie in the No. 10 jersey and has placed Stephen Perofeta unexpectedly at fullback with Beauden Barrett on the bench to cover both of those positions.

Perenara has made an outstanding comeback to win the scrumhalf role. He was close to retirement a year ago and began the Super Rugby season as an understudy to Roigard. But he excelled when he took over the starting role in Roigard’s absence.

Robertson has paired captain Scott Barrett at lock with Patrick Tuipulotu, the Super Rugby-winning captain on the Auckland-based Blues and named Tupou Vaa’i on the bench.

World Rugby player of the year Ardie Savea will start at the back of the scrum with Dalton Papali’i on the openside and Samipeni Finau on the blindside. Finau had an outstanding Super Rugby season and echoes Jerome Kaino as a hard-tackling No. 6.

Sevu Reece will start on the right wing and Mark Telea on the left. Robertson has been unable to find a place on the bench for the powerful Blues winger Caleb Clarke. Rieko Ioane and Jordie Barrett are paired in midfield.

The front row was widely predicted with Tyrel Lomax at tighthead, Ethan de Groot at loosehead and Crusaders veteran Codie Taylor at hooker. Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua will make an impact from the bench along with Blues veteran Ofa Tu’ungafasi and the young Fletcher Newell.

“This was a very tough squad to pick but we’ve selected the best 23 players to beat England on Saturday,” Robertson said. 

“There is a lot of excitement in the group for our first test and we’re walking together toward this opportunity to represent New Zealand and our families in Dunedin in front of a sold-out stadium. We’ve prepared well and we’re ready.” 

New Zealand: S Perofeta; S Reece, R Ioane, J Barrett, M Telea; D McKenzie, T.J. Perenara; E de Groot, C Taylor, T Lomax; S Barrett - captain, P Tuipulotu, S Finau, D Papali'i, A Savea.

Replacements: A Aumua, O Tu’ungafasi, F Newell, T Vaa’i, L Jacobson, F Christie, A Lienert-Brown, B Barrett.