Giant Southland prop Jamie Mackintosh starts his first test for the All Blacks at Murrayfield © Getty Images

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Matches: Scotland 6 - 32 New Zealand

Tournaments/Tours: New Zealand tour

Teams: New Zealand | Scotland

New All Blacks Liam Messam, Kieran Read and Jamie Mackintosh will take the field as New Zealand start their Grand Slam rugby quest against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Personnel changes to the side that shaded Australia 19-14 last weekend in Hong Kong were as wide-ranging as expected. Only three players retained starting roles for the Test in Edinburgh, one that the All Blacks management clearly see as the easiest of their European tour.

Messam and Read make their debuts in a loose forward trio covered by Richie McCaw off the bench while Mackintosh, the massive Southland prop long touted as an international class front-row, will make his debut at loose-head.

Keven Mealamu returns at hooker for the first time this season, following Andrew Hore's tour-ending ankle injury last Saturday. The 61-test veteran also becomes the All Blacks' 63rd captain after McCaw's regular stand-in, Rodney So'oialo, was among the first choice players given the weekend off.

Mealamu will be covered by Canterbury hooker Corey Flynn, who returns from the wilderness for his first test since the tour match against Italy four years ago.

After Hosea Gear and Cory Jane made their debuts in the Bledisloe Cup finale last Saturday, openside flanker Scott Waldrom, prop Ben Franks and hooker Hikawera Elliot - who joined the squad yesterday as cover for the luckless Hore - are the only new players yet to see action.

Their time will come, most likely against Heineken Cup champions Munster on November 18 in Limerick - the midweek game sandwiched between the Ireland and Wales tests. Joe Rokocoko's return on the left wing is the feature of a revamped back division that sees only makeshift fullback Isaia Toeava and fly-half Stephen Donald retained from Hong Kong. Rokocoko is poised to earn his 49th cap, and first since World Cup quarter-final loss to France last October. The 25-year-old is back in action after injuries forced him to miss the bulk of the Super 14 and provincial competitions.

Rokocoko will see his return to the test arena as the ideal forum for him to rediscover a try-scoring prowess that has seen him touchdown 43 times in 48 tests since his debut as a teenager in 2003.

Sitiveni Sivivatu makes way Rokocoko while Gear is replaced by Anthony Tuitavake. Richard Kahui, who ended up playing the Bledisloe tests in Auckland and Brisbane on the wing after Graham Henry lost faith in Tuitavake and Rudi Wulf, is back in his preferred position at centre. Piri Weepu and Ma'a Nonu's influential cameos off the bench last weekend see them rewarded with starts at scrum-half and centre respectively. Like McCaw, match-winning fly-half Daniel Carter is available, if required, off the bench.

The versatile Messam starts at No 8 while Read is at blindside and Adam Thomson deputises for McCaw. In the locks Ali Williams will be partnered by Anthony Boric, who starts a test for the first time since the loss to South Africa in July.

Joining Rokocoko on the comeback trail is John Afoa, who replaces Neemia Tialata at tight-head after recovering from a knee injury suffered during the squad's only pre-departure warm-up against a Barbarians selection.

Knee problems that forced halfback Andy Ellis to sit out Air NZ Cup semis and final have also been resolved, enabling him to join the bench. Despite at least 10 first choice players either spectating or on the bench as a last resort, it did not take long for the All Blacks to deny they were fielding a weakened line-up.

"We haven't got a second team," said assistant coach Wayne Smith after the team touched down in the Scottish capital today. "We are playing six matches in five weeks - if you look at the logistics of that you have to play the guys that are in the squad.

"We have to manage the squad well. Part of that is keeping the energy and desire high because that's critical."

Scotland head coach Frank Hadden has urged his team to build on their performance in Argentina by making history against the under-strength All Blacks.

Scotland have not beaten New Zealand in 26 attempts over 103 years, not least because of the manner in which his side beat Argentina 26-14 last time out. "All that sort of thing is a side-show,'' Hadden said. "We are just absolutely focused on getting the best possible performance we can out of these guys this weekend. And, if we perform to the level we think we are capable of, we'll get what we deserve.

"We feel we have the right to go into this game with some confidence. We think that what that side did in Argentina was a significant achievement, and we are excited at the opportunity we are getting this weekend.''

Hadden has made seven changes to the XV he fielded against Argentina almost five months ago. In the pack he has gone for experience with Jason White, Simon Taylor and Nathan Hines - all capped more than 50 times for their country - recalled after missing Scotland's summer tour to South America.

The trio have not had the kind of build-up they would have wanted - White has only played a handful of games for Sale Sharks this season, Taylor has been deployed mainly in the second row for Stade Francais and Hines has only recently returned from a 30-day suspension in France for stamping.

However, Hadden believes that White in particular brings the know-how and rugged fighting quality which will be needed. "It was a tough decision because we have slowly but surely unearthed and developed a competition for places which gives us a level of confidence going into the game,'' said Hadden.

"We were looking for the sort of physicality that we are confident Jason can bring every time he steps on a rugby pitch. Everyone is aware that we have a very young squad, and experience going into a game like this is vital. We don't see it as a gamble. We all know what he can bring to the table. He has recovered extremely well after a long period out of the game and he is in good shape.

"It is extremely unfortunate for Al Strokosch, because he has played extremely well for us recently and he has made a huge impact in the side since joining us in the Six Nations last year. Its just one of these tough and very tight decisions you have to make.''

Hadden added: "The best thing about Simon [Taylor] is that after two or three years when he has been struggling with one injury after another, he is back running freely, looking enthusiastic and his performances bear that out."

Behind the scrum Hadden has gone for an all-Edinburgh midfield, with half-backs Mike Blair and Phil Godman lining up alongside the youthful centre partnership of Nick De Luca and Ben Cairns.

"Ben Cairns made a big impact in Argentina and he's got a little bit more international experience under his belt now,'' said Hadden. "I know he's been injured for a while, but he looks to be back to match sharpness again and we think he's an exciting young prospect.''

For De Luca there is a golden opportunity to resurrect his international career after he underperformed against France and Wales in last season's Six Nations Championship.

"Nick De Luca missed an opportunity last year but I think everyone believed that he would come again and this is a fantastic chance for him,'' said Hadden. "And Phil Godman proved himself, not only in Argentina but throughout this season with Edinburgh, with the consistency of his performances - which was perhaps lacking in the past.''

Glasgow's Thom Evans, who picked up his first cap in Argentina, is selected on the right wing, with Sean Lamont - who has missed Scotland's last seven games with a knee injury - and Chris Paterson providing the experience in the back three.

Scotland: Chris Paterson, Thom Evans, Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca, Sean Lamont, Phil Godman, Mike Blair (c) Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Euan Murray, Nathan Hines, Jim Hamilton, Jason White, John Barclay, Simon Taylor

Replacements: Dougie Hall, Alasdair Dickinson, Matt Mustchin, Scott Gray, Rory Lawson, Dan Parks, Hugo Southwell

New Zealand: Isaia Toeava, Anthony Tuitavake, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Stephen Donald, Piri Weepu, Liam Messam, Adam Thomson, Kieran Read, Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (c), Jamie Mackintosh

Replacements: Corey Flynn, Neemia Tialata, Ross Filipo, Richie McCaw, Andy Ellis, Daniel Carter, Cory Jane

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Assistant Referees: Dave Pearson (England), Paul Dix (England)
Television Match Official: Graham Hughes (England)
Citing Commissioner: Ray Wilton (Wales)