All Blacks vs Japan: Eight NZ debutants named for Tokyo test

One of the freshest-looking All Blacks teams in recent memory will take on play in Tokyo on Saturday.

Eight new test caps have been named, while 23 senior players fly to England today to prepare for Twickenham next week.

This is the most newcomers ever named by coach Steve Hansen, four more than he selected in the third test against France in June.

"While this is a relatively inexperienced group, the expectation is that when you pull on the black jersey, then a top performance is required," says Hansen. 

"It's important that the players embrace the expectation and enjoy it."

The line-up may be low on experience, but stacked with potential.

Openside flanker Dalton Papalii and centre Matt Proctor will start on debut, while prop Tyrel Lomax, loose forwards Dillon Hunt and Gareth Evans, halfback Mitch Drummond, first-five Brett Cameron and wing George Bridge fill out a virtual rookie bench. 

Among the reserves, only Liam Coltman and Tim Perry have previous test caps. 

Hooker Dane Coles' 56 test caps stand out like a sore thumb in this team, which has been selected as a solution to keeping top players fresh and building depth in a rigorous season. 

Waisake Naholo and Ofa Tu'ungafasi are the only other players with more than 20 tests, and Tu'ungafasi has only started one of those matches.

Back-line drivers Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Richie Mo'unga and Jordie Barrett have 13 tests between them, although Mo'unga has adapted to test rugby well and the other two have spent a long time in camp, learning how to be All Blacks.

All Blacks vs Japan: Eight NZ debutants named for Tokyo test

Even captain Luke Whitelock is a greenhorn in just his seventh test and first as skipper, although he did lead the midweek team against a France XV in Lyon last year.

Luke Romano's injury means they will carry two loose forwards on the bench. Blindside Vaea Fifita will have to cover lock, a position the All Blacks selectors have been loathe to see him play, as they try to develop him at six. 

Like Fifita, the back-line poses some major attacking threats. Mo'unga seems at ease in test rugby, while Ngani Laumape, Naholo, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Barrett have all shown they can be strike weapons.

The lack of experience means they'll want to get off to a dominant start.

They will not want to be rattled by Japan, like South Africa was at the 2015 World Cup, because there are just eight test caps on the bench to provide test-finishing experience.

The full All Blacks line-up against Japan is:

1-Ofa Tuungafasi, 2-Dane Coles, 3-Angus Ta'avao, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu, 5-Jackson Hemopo, 6-Vaea Fifita, 7-Dalton Papalii*, 8-Luke Whitelock (captain), 9-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Waisake Naholo, 12-Ngani Laumape, 13-Matt Proctor*, 14-Nehe Milner-Skudder, 15-Jordie Barrett

Reserves: 16-Liam Coltman, 17-Tim Perry, 18-Tyrel Lomax*, 19-Dillon Hunt*, 20-Gareth Evans*, 21-Mitch Drummond*, 22-Brett Cameron*, 23-George Bridge*

Newshub.

Join us at 7pm Saturday for live updates of the All Blacks vs Japan rugby test in Tokyo