Rookie faces fearsome Mortlock

Jamie Pandaram | July 23, 2008

FOR the second successive year the All Blacks will gamble on an inexperienced outside centre in the Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia, this time banking on rookie Richard Kahui to handle Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock.

Kiwi captain Richie McCaw has also been tentatively named to start - bracketed with Daniel Braid - despite an ankle injury suffered against England last month which threatened to keep him sidelined for the game, but a decision on his availability will be made later this week.

Kahui was the shock selection at No.13 today, relegating Conrad Smith to the bench for the Tri Nations encounter in Sydney on Saturday.

Rookie faces fearsome Mortlock - rugbyheaven.com.au