Captain Richie McCaw returns, having recovered from the leg injury that kept him out of the All Blacks final pool game against Tonga.

He is one of four world players of the year, along with Kieran Read, Dan Carter and Brodie Retallick in a side which boasts an impressive 1,295 Test caps in total. “The big boys have to step up to the plate and the team that does this the best will move through to the next round. It’s as simple as that,” coach Steve Hansen said when naming the side on Thursday.

The selection of Nonu ahead of Williams was always going to be a close call as was choosing between Milner-Skudder and Waisake Naholo.

Wyatt Crockett will start at loosehead prop after Tony Woodcock’s campaign was ended by a serious hamstring strain in the All Blacks last pool match against Tonga. Joe Moody, rushed over from New Zealand to replace Woodcock, goes straight onto the bench as a specialist loosehead..