Thursday 25 September 2014 11:07, UK
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has confirmed that uncapped hooker Nathan Harris will start Saturday's Rugby Championship clash against Argentina on the bench.
Harris has come into the squad one game ahead of schedule after Dane Coles returned home early to be at the birth of his first child.
Veteran hooker Keven Mealamu replaces Coles in the starting XV, with Harris – who had been due to come into the squad for the final match of the championship against South Africa – providing cover on the bench.
"We've known that we were going to have to bring Nathan in for the next leg so we're just going one game earlier," Hansen said. "It's not too big of an adjustment at all really.
"We've been training for it; you expected the unexpected. Nathan and Keven have been doing everything. We've planned for it and it's happened.
"I'm looking forward to it actually. It's taken a long time to get him to this point. If he gets through the next two games I'm sure he's going to be a great All Black because they will be the biggest tests he'll ever have."
Hansen has also been forced to change his fly-half options after Aaron Cruden was dropped for missing the team’s flight to Argentina.
Beauden Barrett has been handed the No 10 jersey, with Colin Slade added to the bench.
Barrett will start alongside Malakai Fekitoa after the rookie centre was given the nod to replace the sidelined Ma'a Nonu.
"Though it's disappointing having Ma'a injured, it is a great opportunity for the young man and one I'm sure he will take," Hansen added.
There are two further changes to the pack, with Jerome Kaino and Sam Whitelock recovering from injuries to start.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 1 Wyatt Crockett, 2 Keven Mealamu, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Sam Whitelock, 6 Jerome Kaino, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 8 Kieran Read.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Sam Cane, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Cory Jane
Watch Argentina v New Zealand live on Sky Sports 3 HD on Saturday September 27 from 11pm
