It’s the All Barretts!

Jordie’s debut,

Rookies to debut in series decider

B14-15

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has kept faith in midfielder Ngani Laumape for the third and deciding rugby test against the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park on Saturday. More surprising is his decision to go for Jordie Barrett, another making his first test start, at fullback.

Barrett, the brother of first-five Beauden, played well off the reserves bench against Samoa in the All Blacks’ warm-up test three weeks ago and Hansen clearly thinks the 20-year-old can provide something different at the back in what is the most significant test here since the World Cup final in 2011.

Waisake Naholo, who didn’t train fully during the week after taking a knock in the second-test defeat in Wellington, has been left out of the squad, with Julian Savea returning on the left wing and Israel Dagg, the fullback in Ben Smith’s injury-forced absence last weekend, moving to the right wing.

Malakai Fekitoa, brought into the squad following Ryan Crotty’s hamstring injury and Sonny Bill Williams’ suspension, has been named on the bench. Left wing Rieko Ioane, who has started the last two tests, has been left out of the 23.

Laumape acquitted himself well when coming on for Williams after 25 minutes last weekend and will be told to back his instincts in the No 12 jersey in order to create the attacking momentum the All Blacks couldn’t find in the 24-21 defeat to the Lions in the second test at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

With Anton Lienert-Brown outside him and Barrett the younger at the back, it is an extremely youthful and inexperienced backline. The trio have 14 caps between them so the leadership of halfback Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett at No 10 will be crucial.

As if the test wasn’t important enough for the world champions, it is also skipper Kieran Read’s 100th, a milestone which he and his teammates will want to celebrate in the appropriate fashion.

“Firstly, on behalf of the All Blacks and all of New Zealand, I’d like to congratulate Reado on reaching the milestone of 100 test matches,” Hansen said. “It’s a special achieve-