The All Blacks coach has named Sonny Bill Williams at second five-eighth and selected Israel Dagg ahead of Mils Muliaina for the opening Rugby World Cup match against Tonga.
Dagg had been tipped to replace Muliaina after a superb return from injury to top class rugby in South Africa in August.
Coach Graham Henry says Muliaina has been one of the top fullbacks in the world for some time but has been having a bit of a flat patch.
He says Dagg's selection doesn't men he's the first-choice fullback and both Mils and Israel are competing for that position.
Sonny Bill Williams gets a start at second five-eighth for the match at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.
He will partner Ma'a Nonu in the centres, while Isaia Toeava is on the left wing and Richard Kahui on the right.
Captain Richie McCaw will earn his 99th test cap at Eden Park and move ahead of Muliaina in the race to be the first All Blacks' player to achieve the 100-test milestone.
The All Blacks have played Tonga twice in previous Rugby World Cups, winning 45-9 in 1999 and 91-7 in 2003.
The full team:
Starting XV
1 Tony Woodcock
2 Andrew Hore
3 Owen Franks
4 Brad Thorn
5 Ali Williams
6 Jerome Kaino
7 Richie McCaw - captain
8 Victor Vito
9 Jimmy Cowan
10 Daniel Carter
11 Isaia Toeava
12 Sonny Bill Williams
13 Ma'a Nonu
14 Richard Kahui
15 Israel Dagg
Reserves
16 Corey Flynn
17 Ben Franks
18 Anthony Boric
19 Sam Whitelock
20 Piri Weepu
21 Colin Slade
22 Cory Jane
