Dan Carter will make his return to the All Blacks © Getty Images

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Dan Carter has made his return to the All Blacks squad for the first time this year after he was ruled out of the Bledisloe and Rugby Championship Tests due to a leg injury. All Blacks Steve Hansen had early stated that Carter would not be selected if he was not fully fit but after a continuing stint on the sideline Carter will finally return to the squad.

Sonny Bill Williams will also make his return to the All Blacks squad after a two-year stint in the NRL with the Roosters. Williams returned to New Zealand rugby through Counties Manukau in the ITM Cup and played in two matches earlier this month.

However, Colin Slade has missed out on selection despite delivering the crushing blow to the Wallabies on Saturday night and kicking the All Blacks to a tight one-point victory. A logjam of No.10's has meant that Slade has missed out on a spot with Carter, Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett filling in the fly-half position.

"I want to congratulate all those who have been selected and also commiserate with the unlucky players who haven't made it this time. It was a very hard team to select, more because of the depth we have, rather than people not being good enough to make it," Hansen said.

The squad will assemble in Auckland on Sunday for their flight to Chicago where they will take part in a historic Test match against the USA Eagles.

"It's going to be an exciting week in Chicago as we build up for the match at Soldier Field. It's somewhere different for the team which will be stimulating, the match is sold out, which is fantastic, and we are looking forward to showing American rugby fans what the All Blacks are all about."

Forwards: Dane Coles, Nathan Harris, Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Jeremy Thrush, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (c), Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Victor Vito

Backs: TJ Perenara, Augustine Pulu, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Daniel Carter, Aaron Cruden, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea, Ben Smith