All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has said the decision to not play Israel Dagg in the first Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia was precautionary more than anything.
Dagg just finished up a long and gruelling Super Rugby season with the Crusaders and Hansen believes the 29-year-old would benefit an extra week on the sidelines - shutting down any talks of the outside back being injured.
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"After coming back from the Lions he was pretty fatigued," Hansen told reporters on Thursday.
"His knee is a little jammed up so we felt an extra week for him would be good - so we didn't consider him for selection.
"He is not injured he could have played if we really wanted him too.
"But it is a long term race as well as a short term one so we have to consider that so we feel another week for Dagg would be good for his body and mentally to freshen him up."
With limited outside back options, the All Blacks coaches opted to play Ben Smith on the wing and play Damian McKenzie at fullback.
McKenzie played at fullback for the majority of the Super Rugby season and won player of the tournament so he has the skills to play the position to a high standard.
Hansen is backing the 22-year-old to put on a show and make the most of the opportunity.
"We're losing Dagg's aerial skills so that allowed us to put Bender (Ben Smith) there then it became a no brainer pick Damian.
"Damian is in great form and he has been unfortunate because Jordie Barrett has been ahead of him.
"Jordie is obviously injured and not here so that opened the door for him and he is excited about that.
"He is very unluckily to be behind Jordie in the first place but we had to make a decision and somebody was going to miss out."
The other notable change in the All Blacks squad for Saturday night's clash is blindside flanker Liam Squire starting ahead of Jerome Kaino.
The two-time World Cup winner has been omitted from the match day 23, and Hansen said, like Dagg the coaching staff is thinking long term.
"Jerome is not getting younger and we have to look after him for a long season too.
"We get the backend of this year. In our last nine weeks, we go around the world twice, play seven Test matches and have 10 time-zone changes.
"You need most of your squad feeling or many as you can get feeling somewhat fresh so we have to manage them."
Hansen said Squire deserves and opportunity after making a good comeback from a broken thumb which ruled the 26-year old out of the British and Irish Lions series in June.
"Liam is going to bring some real energy. He sat and watched the whole Lions series.
"He has played some games since then and has been really physical and brings that with him into this environment
"He played well in our game against Taranaki and Counties so we feel he deserves an opportunity and we are looking forward to seeing him play."
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