Report: Italy 10-59 NZ

Centre Casey Laulala and scrum-half Piri Weepu will win their first caps, with flanker Richie McCaw taking over the captaincy from Tana Umaga.

It had always been Henry's intention to play all his 32-man squad in their two opening games on tour before the match regarded as their major test, France.

The All Blacks have not lost to Wales in 16 games, stretching back to 1953.

With Carlos Spencer and Andrew Mehrtens not making the tour, Weepu forms a new half-back partnership with fly-half Daniel Carter, who impressed in that role with 19 points in New Zealand's 59-10 win in Rome.

There are not wholesale changes, the nucleus of the side is there All Blacks coach Graham Henry

Despite the numerous changes, All Blacks coach Graham Henry denied suggestions he had selected a weakened and experimental side.

"I think we are fielding a very strong Test team," said Henry, who quit as Wales coach in 2002.

"We have got some strength in New Zealand in the centre, it is probably the strongest part of our game at the moment and we couldn't play them all.

"There are not wholesale changes, the nucleus of the side is there.

"We have done what we planned to do prior to leaving New Zealand and we are pleased we have been able to carry on with that programme - that is to have two strong sides play Italy and Wales."

New Zealand: Malili Muliaina (Blues); Doug Howlett (Blues), Casey Laulala (Crusaders), Aaron Mauger (Crusaders), Joe Rokocoko (Blues); Daniel Carter (Crusaders), Piri Weepu (Hurricanes); Tony Woodcock (Blues), Kevin Mealamu (Blues), Greg Somerville (Crusaders), Chris Jack (Crusaders), Ali Williams (Blues), Rodney So'oialo (Hurricanes), Richard McCaw (capt, Crusaders), Mose Tuiali'i (Crusaders).

Replacements: Anton Oliver (Otago), Carl Hayman (Otago), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury), Marty Holah (Waikato), Byron Kelleher (Waikato), Maa Nonu (Wellington), Rico Gear (Auckland).