As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

As the All Black squad prepares to take on Japan on Friday the public has been able to meet and greet some of the players including at Rebel Sport and CBD Corner Pub.

All Blacks star Daniel Carter is injured and won't play in this week's World Cup match with Japan.

Carter, who suffered a sore back in the opening clash against Tonga, was replaced by Canterbury's Colin Slade in the starting XV, with halfback Jimmy Cowan coming on to the bench, and Piri Weepu moving out to provide first–five cover.

All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said: “The key thing is that Daniel had been recovering well from a stiff lower back.

1 of 28 Getty Images Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks and Taniela Moa. 2 of 28 LAWRENCE SMITH/Fairfax Media Jerome Kaino goes over the line. 3 of 28 JOHN SELKIRK/Fairfax Media Israel Dagg goes in. 4 of 28 Getty Images Taniela Moa of Tonga evades a tackle from Richie McCaw. 5 of 28 LAWRENCE SMITH/Fairfax Media Sonny Bill Williams has his shirt replaced. 6 of 28 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media All Black prop Owen Franks. 7 of 28 LAWRENCE SMTIH/Fairfax Media All Black captain Richie McCaw. 8 of 28 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media Sonny Bill Williams goes for the line. 9 of 28 FIONA GOODALL/Fairfax Media All Black fullback Israel Dagg in action. 10 of 28 FIONA GOODALL/Fairfax Media All Black second-five Sonny Bill Williams in action. 11 of 28 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media All Black blindside flanker Jerome Kaino During the All Blacks vs Tonga opening match of the Rugby World Cup. 12 of 28 Getty Images Ali Williams of the All Blacks and Joseph Tuineau of Tonga clash. 13 of 28 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media Dan Carter of the All Blacks. 14 of 28 Getty Images Andrew Ma'ilei of Tonga is tackled by Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks. 15 of 28 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media Ma'a Nonu dodges the opposition. 16 of 28 Getty Images Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks is tackled by the Tongan defence. 17 of 28 Getty Images Owen Franks of the All Blacks evades a tackle from Sukanaivalu Hufanga of Tonga. 18 of 28 JOHN SELKIRK/Fairfax Media Sonny Bill Williams in action at NZ v Tonga opening game of the Rugby World Cup. 19 of 28 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media All Black Richard Kahui scores a try. 20 of 28 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media Dan Carter lines up a kick during the New Zealand v Tonga match at Eden Park. 21 of 28 Getty Images Richard Kahui of the All Blacks runs with the ball. 22 of 28 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media All Black fullback Israel Dagg scores the opening try. 23 of 28 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media All Black fullback Israel Dagg scores the opening try. 24 of 28 LAWRENCE SMITH/Fairfax Media Jimmy Cowan of New Zealand in action. 25 of 28 LAWRENCE SMITH/Fairfax Media Ali Williams of New Zealand in action. 26 of 28 Getty Images Richie McCaw and Piri Weepu lead the New Zealand haka. 27 of 28 Getty Images The Tongans perform the Sipi Tau. 28 of 28 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media Sonny Bill Williams goes for the line during the All Blacks vs Tonga opening match.

"However, he pulled up sore at an indoor training session this morning so we have made the decision not to risk him and we will aim to have him back fully training next week in preparation for the France test.”

Meanwhile, captain Richie McCaw was named today in his customary No 7 jersey for his 100th test which means around 8pm on Friday evening in the middle of Moolooland he will become the first New Zealander to achieve that special milestone.

The full house will doff their collective hat to a wonderful achievement spanning a decade of the highest quality rugby.

1 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA FLYING HIGH: At the All Blacks captain's run - Richie McCaw leaps high. 2 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA RARING TO GO: At the All Blacks captain's run Richie McCaw passes to Dan Carter. 3 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA All Blacks training run - Israel Dagg. 4 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training run - Richard Kahui. 5 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training run - Ma-a Nonu warming-up. 6 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training run - Sonny Bill Williams passes. 7 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training run - Ma-a Nonu. 8 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training run - Sonny Bill Williams. 9 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training - Sonny Bill Williams. 10 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training - Sonny Bill Williams. 11 of 37 Getty Images Sonny Bill Williams signs a fan's shirt a fan day in Christchurch. 12 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training - Jimmy Cowan. 13 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training - Richie McCaw 14 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training - Richie McCaw. 15 of 37 Getty Images Jerome Kaino plays charades. 16 of 37 Getty Images Kieran Read does some lineout practice. 17 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training - Israel Dagg and Cory Jane. 18 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training - Colin Slade and Dan Carter. 19 of 37 Getty Images Ma'a Nonu on the charge at All Blacks' training. 20 of 37 Getty Images Richie McCaw seemed to be moving freely at training, following his calf injury setback. 21 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training - Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu. 22 of 37 Getty Images Kieran Read tests out his troublesome ankle. 23 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training - Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu. 24 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training - Israel Dagg. 25 of 37 Getty Images Dan Carter runs the cutter at All Blacks training. 26 of 37 Getty Images Israel Dagg and Sonny Bill Williams get help from Piri Weepu during their warm-up. 27 of 37 FAIRFAX MEDIA At the All Blacks training - Victor Vito and Kieran Read. 28 of 37 Getty Images All Blacks' winger Zac Guildford and Liam Messam hongi. 29 of 37 Getty Images All Blacks' prop Ben Franks carries fellow prop John Afoa. 30 of 37 Getty Images All Blacks' centre Sonny Bill Williams leaps high at practice. 31 of 37 Getty Images All Blacks' flyhalf Dan Carter sits out training. 32 of 37 Getty Images All Blacks' assistant coach Wayne Smith high fives fans. 33 of 37 Getty Images All Blacks' star Dan Carter sits out training with a back strain. 34 of 37 Getty Images All Blacks' flanker Adam Thompson takes a water break. 35 of 37 Getty Images The All Blacks players warm-up. 36 of 37 Getty Images All Blacks' Cory Jane at practice with Zac Guildford. 37 of 37 Getty Images All Blacks' Kieran Read sits out training with an ankle injury.

It will be a special occasion, in this Pool A clash against John Kirwan's Japan, for both McCaw and the All Blacks as their fabulous captain and world-class openside flanker becomes the first Kiwi to enter the special club of test centurions.

But it was at No 15 that much of the selection attention focused for what should be a straightforward victory for the New Zealanders against a game but limited Japanese side.

Coach Graham Henry has resisted the urge to retain the in-form Israel Dagg at fullback, and picked veteran Mils Muliaina for his 99th test - and arguably the most important of his career.

Getty Images INJURED: Dan Carter will sit out Japan test.

Henry admitted this morning after unveiling his lineup that the "old bull", as he calls his 31-year-old fullback, was firmly under the gun given the quality of the challenge from the "young bull" Dagg who played so well in the tournament opener against Tonga.

Henry's selection at the back in a side that edges closer towards the All Blacks' full-strength lineup - that will come next week surely against the French - will not please a Kiwi rugby public who have been baying for Dagg's anointment as the side's premier No 15.

Henry acknowledged the challenge of Dagg but said Muliaina deserved a chance to make his own statement in the wake of the Hawke's Bay youngster's two-try effort against the Tongans.

"It's still a contest," said Henry. "We've got a gentleman who's played 98 test matches and who's played some fabulous rugby for the All Blacks over a long period of time playing against a young guy who could be a very, very good player.

"It's a contest, and that's great for that position."

Henry admitted he had been "tempted" to retain Dagg, given his form, and given his comparative lack of rugby this year.

"You've got the old bull and the young bull and it's a good contest but if you don't give the old bull a chance the old bull is not going to be able to show what he can do, and he's showed this country for the last 98 test matches what he can do.

"He's often been the No 1 fullback in the game, so we've just got to get the balance right so both have the opportunity to show they're good enough."

Asked if Friday's Pool A clash was a huge test for Muliaina, poised so tantalisingly on 99 not out, Henry said: "For sure, and he knows that."

The All Blacks coach also showed some openness to a possibility of playing both Muliaina and Dagg together in future tests, though he did go on the record as confirming he thought fullback was the youngster's best position.

"Fullback and wings need similar skills, and [playing Dagg on the wing] is a possibility," he said.

Henry will send out a largely predictable starting XV to face the Japanese, with Muliaina, centre Conrad Smith - playing his 50th test - wing Cory Jane and halfback Andy Ellis the backline changes from Tonga. Ellis' selection may raise an eyebrow or two, but in a close tussle at No 9 he deserves his shot too.

Up front a fit-again Adam Thomson comes into the loose trio at No 8, Sam Whitelock replaces Ali Williams in the second row and Keven Mealamu returns at hooker with Andrew Hore dropping to the bench.

The selection indicates Richard Kahui, so outstanding in the opener, and Jane are now the No 1 wing combination, which

Henry was happy to confirm. "The two guys selected for this game are playing very well, scoring tries, creating, and they've got good skillsets to play in all conditions."

Henry also paid tribute to his skipper's looming milestone.

"He's an inspirational person for all New Zealanders and the team by being person he is and way he plays the game," he said, denying it had been important that McCaw had been the first to reach the 100-test plateau. "It's a very special time, the first time a New Zealander has achieved 100 tests. It can't be bigger than that."

Asked what made McCaw unique in the annals of New Zealand rugby, Henry singled out just a few of his captain's many qualities.

"His steel, his bravery, his ability to lead from the front and by example, the respect his players have for him....I think it was back in '09 and we were going to South Africa to play a test in Cape Town, and he called a meeting at 4am in Auckland to set the tone for the trip. That epitomised his standards and his commitment to this team."

Henry said first five Dan Carter had to prove his fitness today after suffering a slight back strain against Tonga but the No 10 was "keen" to play.



New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Richard Kahui, Colin Slade, Andy Ellis; Adam Thomson, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Sam, Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Andrew Hore, John Afoa, Ali Williams, Victor Vito, Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Sonny Bill Williams.

Japan: Taihei Ueda, Takehisa Usuzuki, Koji Taira, Yuta Imamura, Hirotoki Onozawa, Murray Williams, Atsushi Hiwasa, Takashi Kikutani(c), Michael Leitch, Itaru Taniguchi, Toshizumi Kitagawa, Hitoshi Ono, Nozomu Fujita, Yusuke Aoki, Naoki Kawamata. Reserves: Hiroki Yuhara, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Yuji Kitagawa, Sione Talikavili Vatuvei, Tomoki Yoshida, Shaun Webb, Alisi Tupuailai.