Rodney So'oialo returns to the All Blacks' starting XV © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Sir Graham Henry | Kieran Read | Sitiveni Sivivatu | Conrad Smith | Rodney So'oialo

Tournaments/Tours: New Zealand tour

Teams: Australia | New Zealand

Veteran All Black No.8 Rodney So'oialo has been restored to their starting XV for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia in Tokyo. So'oialo will start only his fourth Test of the season after some mixed form and replaces young Canterbury back-row Kieran Read.

So'oialo joins skipper Richie McCaw and in-form Otago flanker Adam Thomson in the back-row, with no place in the 22 for Jerome Kaino. Read's exclusion is based in part on the fact that injury has ruled him out of Canterbury's recent run to the Air New Zealand Cup semi-finals. Tom Donnelly will win his second cap in the second-row, alongside Brad Thorn, as Jason Eaton provides lock and back-row cover on the bench.

Neemia Tialata keeps out Owen Franks in the front-row and starts alongside Andrew Hore and Tony Woodcock. Canterbury hooker Corey Flynn returns on the bench for the first time since breaking his arm in the All Blacks' midweek game against Munster last November.

Two further changes take place in the backs, where Sitiveni Sivivatu comes in for the axed Joe Rokocoko and Conrad Smith returns to partner Ma'a Nonu in the centre.

Coach Graham Henry has no reservations about including So'oialo, who he believes will go all out to prove that he can still cut it at elite level.

"He's played well for Wellington between the Tri-Nations and this tour, but really there's a big step between Air New Zealand Cup and international standard," Henry said. "He's led from the front for the All Blacks for a long time. He brings a unique physicality at the tackle and the breakdown.

"He plays fully for 80 minutes so his work ethic is huge. He hasn't played a lot of Test match rugby in recent times, starting games, so I'm sure he'll be on edge and show that he's the man."

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitivenu Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Adam Thomson, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Jason Eaton, Kieran Read, Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald, Tamati Ellison