O'Driscoll back for Ireland

Brian O'Driscoll is to captain Ireland for their one-off Test match against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.

The Leinster centre has not played an international since suffering a knee injury in the Six Nations against Wales in March.

O'Driscoll was due to make his comeback in last month's match against the Barbarians but pulled out following the death of a close friend.

He remained in Ireland when the team flew out to New Zealand but joined them in time to start training ahead of the match.

Selectors have been forced to make a late change to the starting line-up after blindside flanker Alan Quinlan was ruled out with a thigh injury.

He has been replaced in the starting line-up by Denis Leamy, with Shane Jennings joining the reserves' bench.

Seven members of the Irish forward pack, plus fly-half Ronan O'Gara, are from the Munster team that won last week's Heineken Cup final against Toulouse.

Alongside O'Driscoll, four of the other six members of the backline are from Magners League champions Leinster.

O'Driscoll will partner his club team-mate Luke Fitzgerald in a new centre pairing after the 20-year-old was called up for his Test debut.

"There are guys back and used to winning things. When you put all that into the melting pot it's a great combination to have," O'Driscoll said.

"If we could just transfer that across to the international stage, we'd definitely have the player capabilities."

Revamp for All Blacks

Meanwhile, New Zealand named a revamped side with only six of the team who lost last year's World Cup quarter-final to France selected.

The hand of All Blacks coach Graham Henry was forced to a degree by the decision of 10 World Cup players to play their club rugby in Europe.

Nevertheless, he has opted for "established combinations where possible".

"We've also had to factor in a few injuries and are mindful that several players were involved in the Super 14 final on the weekend," Henry said.

Winger Anthony Tuitavake is the only new cap in the starting line-up, with three more new faces on the reserves bench: Auckland Blues lock Anthony Boric, Waikato Chiefs fly-half Stephen Donald and Otago Highlanders flanker Adam Thomson.

"The challenge is to work in our new players and new game plan," Henry added.

"We expect Ireland to be well-prepared, experienced and perhaps with some new confidence as well after Munster's success in the European championship."

Ireland have never beaten New Zealand in 20 meetings dating back to 1905 although they did manage a draw in 1973.

New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu; 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis; 1 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 3 John Afoa, 4 Brad Thorn, 5 Ali Willliams, 6 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 8 Jerome Kaino.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 John Schwalger, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Leon MacDonald.

Ireland: 15 Robert Kearney, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Luke Fitzgerald, 11 Tommy Bowe; 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Eoin Reddan; 1 Marcus Horan, 2 Jerry Flannery, 3 John Hayes, 4 Paul O'Connell, 5 Donncha O'Callaghan, 6 Denis Leamy, 7 David Wallace, 8 Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: 16 Rory Best, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 19 Shane Jennings, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Paddy Wallace, 22 Girvan Dempsey.