Kiwis retain line-up

Umaga (right) has been named in the All Blacks' squad

New Zealand's selectors named an unchanged squad on Friday for the first match of the Tri-Nations competition.

The Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia takes place in Christchurch on 13 July.

Injuries to several players in the match against Fiji last weekend delayed the naming of the squad.

But the big fitness worries were all included in a 26-man party which will be cut to 22 next Tuesday.

Fullback Leon MacDonald, who suffered minor concussion in a clash of heads during the 68-18 win over Fiji, outside centre Tana Umaga, who aggravated a knee injury, and No. 8 Taine Randell (calf injury) were also chosen.

Canterbury utility back Ben Blair has been added as cover for MacDonald and team mate Sam Broomhall is included as cover for the loose forwards.

Coach John Mitchell said the prospect of taking on the world champions was exciting for the whole squad.

"Australia has set the standards in recent years, they've got all the trophies," he said.

"But we've worked hard and everyone is looking forward to the opportunity to measure ourselves against them," he said.

---

Squad:

Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Christian Cullen (Wellington), Jonah Lomu (Wellington), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Caleb Ralph (Canterbury), Mark Robinson (Canterbury), Tana Umaga (Wellington), Daryl Gibson (Canterbury), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Andrew Mehrtens (Canterbury), Byron Kelleher (Otago), Justin Marshall (Canterbury), Scott Robertson (Canterbury), Taine Randell (Otago), Marty Holah (Waikato), Richard McCaw (Canterbury), Reuben Thorne (captain, Canterbury), Norm Maxwell (Canterbury), Simon Maling (Otago), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Kees Meeuws (Auckland), Dave Hewett (Canterbury), Joe McDonnell (Otago), Mark Hammett (Canterbury), Tom Willis (Otago). Injury cover: Ben Blair (Canterbury), Sam Broomhall (Canterbury).