Barrett bros make All Black history

Beauden, Jordie and Scott Barrett will be the first trio of brothers to start a Test for the All Blacks when they line up in the series opener against France at Auckland’s Eden Park tomorrow.

Beauden is the regular standoff, while Scott replaces the injured Brodie Retallick at lock and Jordie will play his third Test at full-back. Jordie comes in after the unexpected decision to move Ben Smith from full-back to right wing.

Ryan Crotty and Anton Lienert-brown will combine in midfield in a partnership dictated by the absence through injury of Sonny Bill Williams.

The pack also includes a pair of brothers. Sam Whitelock will captain the team for the second time from lock and Luke Whitelock will make his third Test appearance at No 8 in place of regular skipper Kieran Read, who is recovering from back surgery.

Liam Squire will play on the blindside flank and Sam Cane, despite injury concerns, has been selected on the openside in one of the least experienced All Blacks back-rows in recent years. Uncapped prop Karl Tu’inukuafe has been included in the reserves, marking a spectacular rise for a player in his first season of Super Rugby.

Injuries have given the team a makeshift look in some places and coach Steve Hansen said: “While rugby is a complicated game, we’ve worked hard at simplifying those complexities this week so that we can go out and play with real confidence, high energy and genuine intent.”

Scrum-half Morgan Parra and full-back Maxime Medard have been recalled by France after lengthy absences.