Rugby - New Zealand v Ireland (Saturday, kick-off 8.35am Irish time):Ronan O'Gara staved off the challenge of Jonathan Sexton to claim the outhalf spot for Ireland's one-off Test against New Zealand on Saturday.
Sexton started the final three games of Ireland's Six Nations campaign but has only recently battled back from a broken jaw and missed last Friday's match with the Barbarians because of an infection in his mouth close to where he had the surgery.
Although passed fit earlier in the week, the Leinster man has lost out to the more experienced O'Gara for the match in New Plymouth and has had to settle for a spot on the bench.
Connacht's Sean Cronin and John Muldoon face their sternest challenges yet in Irish colours after being named in the starting line-up.
The pair have both played twice previously for Ireland - Cronin against Fiji and Wales and Muldoon against the United States and Canada - but have found themselves thrust into the spotlight for Ireland's Australasian tour opener because of a heavy injury toll that has robbed coach Declan Kidney of many of his first-choice players.
In the absence of Rory Best and Jerry Flannery, Cronin finds himself packing down alongside Cian Healy and John Hayes, while Muldoon, who was man of the match in last week's loss to the Barbarians, slots in on the blindside flank alongside seasoned campaigner David Wallace and the impressive Jamie Heaslip.
Other first-choice selections like Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Tommy Bowe and Donncha O'Callaghan, who were rested or had only limited time on the pitch against the Barbarians last Friday, all return for the match at Yarrow Stadium.
Mick O'Driscoll joins O'Callaghan in the second row in the absence of his Munster colleague Paul O'Connell.
The uncapped pair of hooker John Fogarty, who came in for the injured Best, and lock or flanker Dan Tuohy, who played against the Barbarians, have been named in the reserves.
In the All Blacks camp Israel Dagg, Benson Stanley and Ben Franks will make their Test debuts on Saturday after being named in a new-look starting line-up.
Franks, who played for the All Blacks against Munster on the end-of-year tour in 2008, will scrum down with his older brother and fellow prop Owen in the front row.
On the bench are three other new All Blacks in lock Sam Whitelock, loose forward Victor Vito and outhalf Aaron Cruden.
Like their opponents, New Zealand have been hit hard by injuries with hooker Andrew Hore, lock Ali Williams, wing Sitiveni Sivivatu and fly-half Mike Delany (shoulder) ruled out for the year, while Ma’a Nonu (knee) is out for Saturday’s game plus two Tests against Wales.
Fullback Mils Muliaina (calf), centre Richard Kahui (chest) and lock Tom Donnelly (ankle) were also not considered for the match at Yarrow Stadium but are close to making a return.
Dagg, who has impressed in a struggling Highlanders side in this year’s Super 14, has been named at fullback, meaning Hurricanes number 15 Cory Jane finds himself moved out the right wing, where he has played the majority of his 12 Tests.
Stanley, the nephew of former All Blacks midfielder Joe Stanley, takes over the number 12 jersey in Nonu’s absence after a good season with the Blues and, while he might not have the explosive running game of the Hurricanes man, the All Blacks will lose nothing in defence with the 25-year-old in midfield.
Alongside the new players are plenty of experienced campaigners like captain Richie McCaw, who is set to play his 81st Test, fly-half Daniel Carter, wing Joe Rokocoko, centre Conrad Smith, flanker Jerome Kaino and scrum-half Jimmy Cowan.
Rokocoko returns to the side after being dropped for the 2009 end of year tour.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry said: “It’s an exciting team that will play the Irish. We have picked experienced All Blacks together with those players who have been in form throughout the Super 14 and deserve their opportunity at Test level.
“They know the Irish will be a huge challenge but they are looking forward to it.”
Teams
Ireland: Rob Kearney (Leinster); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster); Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Tomas O'Leary (Munster); Cian Healy (Leinster), Sean Cronin (Connacht), John Hayes (Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Mick O'Driscoll (Munster), John Muldoon (Connacht), David Wallace (Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: John Fogarty* (Leinster), Tony Buckley (Munster), Dan Tuohy* (Ulster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester).
New Zealand: Israel Dagg (Highlanders); Cory Jane (Hurricanes), Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), Benson Stanley (Blues), Joe Rokocoko (Blues); Daniel Carter (Crusaders), Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders); Ben Franks (Crusaders), Keven Mealamu (Blues), Owen Franks (Crusaders), Brad Thorn (Crusaders), Anthony Boric (Blues), Jerome Kaino (Blues), Richie McCaw (Crusaders, capt), Kieran Read (Crusaders).
Replacements: Aled de Malmanche (Chiefs), Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), Victor Vito (Hurricanes), Piri Weepu (Hurricanes), Aaron Cruden (Hurricanes), Zac Guildford (Crusaders).
*uncapped