Stephen Perofeta has been given the shock nod to start at fullback for the All Blacks in the first match of the year against England

He's pipped fellow Taranaki and Blues playmaker Beauden Barrett to the starting role at 15 for Saturday's test in Dunedin, with the veteran of 119 tests on the bench.

Coach Scott Robertson says they weighed up a number of things, including recent game time, before settling on Perofeta.



Samipeni Finau starts at blindside flanker - none of the uncapped players in the squad of 32 have made the match-day squad.

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