McKenzie moves back

Damian McKenzie is back.

The diminutive Chief will start at fullback for New Zealand against Australia in Yokohama in what will be his first appearance since the team’s 36-24 loss to South Africa in September.

McKenzie was heavily involved in the finale of that match, lining up for a dropkick at one point – which was eventually declined – before being dispossessed by Springboks wing Aphiwe Dyantyi on the final play of the match.

The utility back’s inclusion at 15 sees Ben Smith shift to the right wing and the unlucky Waisake Naholo drop out of the 23 altogether.

Elsewhere, TJ Perenara gets a deserved start at halfback, while flanker Liam Squire’s back from a shoulder injury, along with prop Joe Moody.

Lock Brodie Retallick returns from injury on the bench, while hooker Dane Coles can’t even crack that with Nathan Harris retained as Codie Taylor’s backup.

With Jack Goodhue still recovering from glandular fever, Ryan Crotty will again partner Sonny Bill Williams in midfield, for what will be the latter’s 50th All Blacks appearance.

It’s McKenzie’s selection, though, that leaps out, as part of the triple-threat alongside first five-eighth Beauden Barrett and reserve Richie Mo’unga.

‘‘We want two playmakers on the park and Damian’s spent a lot of time at five-eighth and he has those skills that we’re looking for as a playmaker and he’s also played fullback,’’ All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.

That gives the All Blacks the luxury of having McKenzie and Barrett act as pivots on either side of the ruck, before one makes way for Mo’unga. The increasingly common practice at that point has been for Barrett to go to fullback, allowing Mo’unga to run the show from 10.

‘‘Regardless of what happens, we’re going to have two [playmakers] available to us throughout the whole 80 minutes,’’ Hansen said.

The initial playmaker will work, in the first instance, with Perenara, who has earned a start ahead of Aaron Smith.

‘‘They’re both playing well and they’ve both played a lot of footy. We felt that, for this game, the Bledisloe’s already been wrapped up and we can experiment a little bit. TJ deserves to get a start against a good side,’’ Hansen said.

Perenara’s only two starts this season have come against Argentina, but Hansen added his selection wasn’t a reflection of dissatisfaction with Smith.

‘‘No, no. Nugget [Smith] is probably not playing as well as he wants to play. He’s a little frustrated with how he’s playing, but I think that’s more about what the opposition are doing to us.’’

Elsewhere, Retallick’s absence of game time since injuring a shoulder, against Argentina in Nelson, has seen him only make it as far as the bench. This contrasts with Coles, who has had some provincial footy but remains in cotton wool.

‘‘We considered him but we felt like he can wait another week, have a good week’s training with us and maybe play next week [against Japan].’’