New All Blacks coach Scott Robertson on Thursday left star playmaker Beauden Barrett on the bench for the first test against England in Dunedin.
Having spent most of 2024 playing in Japan, Barrett was named among the replacements with Damian McKenzie preferred at fly-half for Saturday's series opener in Dunedin.
Stephen Perofeta of the Blues was named at full-back in the side that will be captained for the first time by Beauden's brother, lock forward Scott Barrett.
McKenzie will partner scrum-half TJ Perenara, who returns to the All Blacks for the first time since rupturing his Achilles tendon in late 2022.
Chiefs flanker Samipeni Finau won a contentious battle for the blindside flanker berth.
The hard-hitting loose forward joins world player of 2023 Ardie Savea and Dalton Papali'i in the back row.
Robertson sprung few surprises in his first selection, naming eight starting players that took the field for New Zealand's most recent test – the 12-11 Rugby World Cup final loss to South Africa in Paris last October.
Beauden Barrett, who can play either fly-half or full-back, had worn the Number 15 shirt in the defeat to the Springboks.
Robertson left out all of the squad's five uncapped players from the matchday 23.
The All Blacks are without three test cap centurions who retired after the World Cup in locks Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick and scrum-half Aaron Smith.
Influential fly-half Richie Mo'unga was ineligible after playing a season in Japan.
NEW ZEALAND (15-1)
Stephen Perofeta; Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Tele'a; Damian McKenzie, TJ Perenara; Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali'i, Samipeni Finau; Patrick Tuipulotu, Scott Barrett (captain); Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan De Groot.
Replacements: Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Finlay Christie, Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa'i, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Asafo Aumua.