Smith in for full-strength Kiwis

Conrad Smith will partner Luke McAlister at centre in a full-strength New Zealand side for their opening World Cup Pool C match against Italy on Saturday.

Smith struggled with a series of niggling injuries earlier in the year but coach Graham Henry has decided to give the skilful, slightly built outside centre a run ahead of the more physical Isaia Toeava.

Keven Mealamu gets the nod over Anton Oliver at hooker, as Henry opted for more dynamism in the loose, while Sitiveni Sivivatu has been selected on the left wing and Doug Howlett is in for Joe Rokocoko on the right.

Lock Keith Robinson was left out of the squad to give him time to recover from a calf injury, with Ali Williams joining Chris Jack in the second row.

Former skipper Reuben Thorne was named among the replacements although he has not trained fully this week.

"We wanted to play Conrad and we thought the best number 12 to play with him was Luke," assistant coach Wayne Smith said.

"They were a very effective combination in last year's tour of France and the United Kingdom.

"It's great to have Conrad back. By his own admission he is in the form of his life and very hungry."

Henry said Mealamu had been selected to give the team more dynamism in the loose.

"We want to make sure all the guys get an opportunity and we chose Keven because he is a bit more explosive," he said.

Henry said the team was "pretty close" to his top side, but added that competition in several positions was fierce.

"Don't read too much into it; there are a lot of good players vying for places," he said. "We've got no preconceived ideas."

Henry said he expected Italy, who beat both Wales and Scotland in this year's Six Nations, to provide a stiff opening test for the tournament favourites.

"They are a good side and have progressed a huge amount as rugby-playing country in recent years. They played well in the Six Nations and were unlucky not to beat Ireland recently," he said.

Skipper Richie McCaw believes his side's defeat away to Australia during their victorious Tri-Nations campaign in July provided the perfect pre-World Cup wake-up call.

"The loss in Australia forced us to have a good hard look at ourselves," the 26-year-old openside flanker said. "There were things we didn't get right in that game and the one before. There is certainly no complacency and a lot of us have played a fair bit of rugby and were also involved four years ago and we know you can't afford to be complacent in a competition like this."

NEW ZEALAND (v Italy, Marseille, Saturday): M Muliaina; D Howlett, C Smith, L McAlister, 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 Oliver, N Tialata, R Thorne, S Lauaki, B Leonard, A Mauger, L MacDonald.