Steven Luatua has regained favour with the All Blacks and is one of three changes for the top-of-the-table Rugby Championship clash against South Africa in Wellington on Saturday.
After being told in June he was not fit enough to wear the black jersey, the 23-year-old flanker has been restored at blindside flanker in place of the injured Liam Messam.
A fit again Aaron Cruden returns in the pivotal fly-half role while Jeremy Thrush gets the nod to start at lock in place of Sam Whitelock who has been sidelined for up to four weeks with a rib injury.
Luatua was an instant star when he made the All Blacks last year, playing in 11 Tests.
But his form dropped away so much this year in the Super competition that All Blacks coach Steve Hansen declared he was not fit enough to be an All Black and excluded him from the June Test series against England.
He responded by improving enough to come on as replacement against Australia three weeks ago and now, following injuries to Jerome Kaino and Messam, is promoted to the run-on side.
Hansen saw merit in playing the bigger forward ahead of the alternative option of moving captain Richie McCaw to the blindside and starting Sam Cane in the seven jersey.
“This week we have to find a desperation and hunger in our performance because we know that that is something the South Africans will be bringing after their loss to Australia,” Hansen said of his starting 15.
Cruden, who will start the Test on 99 points scored in the Rugby Championship, missed last week’s 28-9 win over Argentina with a chest injury where his replacement Beauden Barrett had a woeful night with his boot.
Barrett, who has developed a reputation as a Super Sub for the All Blacks, drops back to the bench for the Springboks Test.
Cory Jane and Patrick Tuipulotu are also added to the reserves.
Jane replaces Malakai Fekitoa, the only replacement not to get on the field against Argentina, while Tuipulotu has recovered sufficiently from an ankle injury to be named as locking cover.
Israel Dagg did enough against Argentina to retain the fullback slot leaving Ben Smith on the wing.
New Zealand (15-1)
Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea; Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Steven Luatua; Jeremy Thrush, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks; Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Ben Franks, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Cory Jane.