Eight new faces in

AUCKLAND: Starting centre Matt Proctor and flanker Dalton Papalii will make their All Black test debuts against Japan in Tokyo, and six of the eight reserves are also in line to win their first caps.

They will inevitably be tagged as All Black secondstringers, but not all of the matchday 23 fall into that category and it will be a memorable occasion for all the newcomers, who include prop Tyrel Lomax, loose forwards Dillon Hunt and Gareth Evans, and backs Mitchell Drummond, Brett Cameron and George Bridge, all of whom have been named on the bench, but also starting hooker Dane Coles, who will make a welcome return from injury.

It will be Coles’ first test since November last year and, after limited minutes over two games for Wellington recently, he will wear the No 2 jersey with the hope of lasting up to 50 minutes before giving way to Liam Coltman. Coles’ return after his nightmare 18 months of concussion problems and a knee injury will be welcomed by the All Blacks coaches and also Codie Taylor, the incumbent who has borne the brunt of the workload in his absence.

No 8 Luke Whitelock has been named skipper.

There are returns too for outside backs Jordie Barrett, Nehe MilnerSkudder and Waisake Naholo. Richie Mo’unga will direct operations in the No 10 jersey, a clear sign that Damian McKenzie will start at fullback against England at Twickenham a week later.

The topline All Blacks have already left for London in preparation for that highly anticipated test but Mo’unga is a good chance to be named on the bench to play backup to Beauden Barrett.

Auckland loose forward Papalii was not available for his triumphant team’s Mitre 10 Cup semifinal or final and will hope to make the most of his opportunity against the Cherry Blossoms, who are coached by former All Black blindside flanker Jamie Joseph.

Papalii, tall for a New Zealand No 7 at 1.93m, has been a standout this season with his powerful defending and ballcarrying and the All Blacks coaches will expect more of the same from him and the rest of the team, which has a mobile look about it.

They will seek to play a highimpact but also hightempo game, with Jackson Hemopo drafted into the second row alongside Patrick Tuipulotu