Six changes possible for All Blacks

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All Blacks

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The All Blacks are set to make six changes to their starting XV for Saturday's test against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

That number could even stretch to seven if Dan Carter, who did take part in Wednesday morning's first training session of the week at the Ospreys facility, is ruled out of the match with his calf haematoma.

The training formations indicated that alongside the anticipated inclusion of prop Wyatt Crockett and wing Zac Guildford (who will make his test debut) for the suspended Tony Woodcock and Sitiveni Sivivatu respectively, there could also be changes at halfback, No 8, blindside and lock.

Waikato's Brendon Leonard seems set to get his chance at halfback this week, preferred ahead of Jimmy Cowan who played so well against the Wallabies in Tokyo last weekend.

In the loose forwards, Canterbury's Kieran Read is set to replace Rodney So'oialo at No 8 and Aucklander Jerome Kaino come in for Adam Thomson on the blindside flank, with both Read and Kaino having played a significant part of the Tri-Nations campaign earlier this year.

There also appears set to be a rare test start in the second row for Jason Eaton, replacing Otago's Tom Donnelly who has made such a good impression since making his debut against the Wallabies in Wellington.

The All Blacks coaches have said that this is an important tour for some players as they look to prove their worth at test level, and to that end there had been a keenness to give players a chance to play if possible.

"Part of the idea of this tour was to put heat on people, make it competitive and make sure players understood they were playing for their future," said assistant coach Wayne Smith. "To do that you've got to give people games."

It looks like the All Blacks are going to follow through on that promise and make a lot more changes than they normally would on the back of a performance as meritorious as last week's in Tokyo.

Carter's prospects of making the start line were no clearer after he took on only light duties at this morning's first full training session of the week. Stepen Donald was running at first five in Carter's stead.

He will be given every chance to make the match, but the All Blacks will use Donald if Carter's calf doesn't come right in time.

Likely New Zealand starting XV: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Brendon Leonard; 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Wyatt Crockett

- © Fairfax NZ News