Henry names 'best' All Black team

Graham Henry yesterday named what he described as New Zealand's "best team right now" for the second Test against France on Saturday.

The All Blacks coach made five changes to the starting XV which crushed France 47-3 last Saturday in Lyon.

Centres Ma'a Nonu and Mils Muliaina will replace Conrad Smith and Luke McAlister. Byron Kelleher and Chris Jack are back at scrumhalf and lock. Hooker Kevin Mealamu takes over from veteran Anton Oliver.

Flanker Richie McCaw, playing alongside Jerry Collins and Rodney So'oialo in the back row, will captain the team and outhalf Dan Carter will lead the backline with Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu on the wings.

"Based on form, this is our best team right now although it might not be the number one team tomorrow or at the World Cup," Henry said.

"It was a difficult selection because we probably have 30 players who were entitled to claim a start," added the All Blacks coach.

England coach Andy Robinson has reacted to his team's dismal defeat against Argentina by making seven changes for the Twickenham appointment with South Africa on Saturday. Wing Ben Cohen, lock Danny Grewcock and flanker Lewis Moody - who boast more than 160 caps between them - are among those absent from Robinson's starting line-up.

Gareth Thomas will captain Wales against World Cup opponents Canada at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Friday after Stephen Jones failed a fitness test yesterday.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden believes Simon Taylor's "warrior spirit" will see him though his return to international rugby against the Pacific Islanders at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The 27-year-old back-rower has only managed 60 minutes of rugby since undergoing reconstructive surgery on the medial ligament in his left knee during the summer. However he was thrown straight back in at the deep end of international rugby when he was selected in the national team as a direct replacement for injured skipper Jason White.

Scotland centre Rob Dewey is expected to be out until the New Year due to a knee injury. The Edinburgh centre will undergo knee surgery today, leaving him sidelined for up to six weeks.

Meanwhile, Ireland's Paul O'Connell, already shortlisted for the IRB Player of the Year, has also been named amongst the five nominations from which the International Rugby Players will choose their Player of the Year. He will be up against four All Blacks. Inevitably, they include last year's winner Daniel Carter and Richie McCaw, as well as their team-mates Jerry Collins and Carl Hayman.

Andrew Trimble and Jerry Flannery are among the five players shortlisted for the IRPA International Newcomer of the Year.

The winners will be announced next Tuesday.

NEW ZEALAND (v France): L McDonald; J Rokocoko, M Nonu, M Muliaina, S Sivivatu; D Carter, B Kelleher; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, C Hayman, C Jack, A Williams, J Collins, R McCaw (capt), R So'oialo. Replacements: A Hore, N Tialata, J Eaton, C Masoe, A Ellis, N Evans, L McAlister.

ENGLAND (v South Africa): I Balshaw; M Cueto, M Tait, J Noon, J Lewsey; C Hodgson, P Richards; A Sheridan, G Chuter, J White, T Palmer, B Kay, J Worsley, P Sanderson, M Corry (capt). Replacements: L Mears, P Vickery, C Jones, L Moody, S Perry, A Goode, T Flood.

WALES ( v Canada): G Thomas; M Jones, T Shanklin, G Henson, S Williams; J Hook, D Peel; G Jenkins, M Rees, A Jones, I Gough, I Evans, J Thomas, M Williams, R Jones. Replacements: R Thomas, D Jones, R Sidoli, AW Jones, M Phillips, C Sweeney, S Parker.

SCOTLAND ( v Pacific Islanders): C Paterson (capt); S Webster, M Di Rollo, A Henderson, S Lamont; D Parks, C Cusiter, G Kerr, D Hall, E Murray, N Hines, S Murray, S Taylor, J Beattie; K Brown. Replacements: R Ford, A Jacobsen, A Kellock, D Callam, M Blair, P Godman, H Southwell.