Tokyo (AFP) - All Blacks head coach Ian Foster said Thursday that his players were ready to show that their troubles were behind them as they kick off their northern hemisphere tour on Saturday against Japan.
New Zealand have endured a turbulent year that has included a home series loss to Ireland, a heavy defeat in South Africa and a maiden loss on home soil to Argentina.
But they got their act together to clinch the Rugby Championship, winning their last three Tests including a 40-14 thumping of Australia.
The All Blacks play Japan in Tokyo before moving on to Europe to face Wales, Scotland and England, and Foster said his team were "learning how to play for longer periods in a Test match".
The Rugby World Cup in France begins in less than a year's time.
"We certainly were a team that started the Championship a little bit slow but I think we've got the energy levels of the group right now," said Foster.
"I think we took a lot of confidence about understanding our own game by the end of the Championship."
Foster handed first Test starts to full-back Stephen Perofeta and centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck against Japan, with Beauden and Jordie Barrett unavailable after the death of their grandmother.
The three Barrett brothers, including lock forward Scott, did not arrive in Tokyo until Thursday after attending the funeral in New Zealand.
Auckland Blues fly-half Perofeta made his debut as a substitute in the final minute of the All Blacks' home defeat to Argentina.
Rugby league convert Tuivasa-Sheck lines up alongside Braydon Ennor in the midfield, with centre Anton Lienert-Brown -- in the squad for the first time this year -- on the bench.
"It's massive for myself and my family," said Tuivasa-Sheck, who will win his third cap.
"To be playing number 12 for the All Blacks is a pretty big achievement and I'm pretty excited for the weekend."
Sam Whitelock will miss the match after the lock's arrival in Japan was delayed by an inner ear condition caused by playing with his children on a trampoline.
Brodie Retallick will win his 99th cap, partnering Tupou Vaa'i in the second row.
Scrum-half Finlay Christie lines up alongside Richie Mo'unga in the half-backs.
"There are a number of players that didn't get a lot of time in the Rugby Championship that we had always intended to play," said Foster.
"A few little tweaks and changes at the start of the week but it hasn't really changed anything in terms of the quality of the team we're putting out."
'Create pressure'
Japan head coach Jamie Joseph named nine veterans of his team's historic run to the quarter-finals of the 2019 World Cup on home soil in his starting line-up for Saturday.
Joseph said senior players such as Michael Leitch, Kazuki Himeno and Kotaro Matushima were important in "the messages they're giving to the other players who haven't played a lot of rugby".
"What we believe is that if we can create pressure on the All Blacks, then we can create a winning opportunity," said the New Zealand-born coach.
"It's difficult but I guess we take confidence from the fact that we've done that before when we've put our game together at the right time."
Japan (15-1): Ryohei Yamanaka; Kotaro Matsushima, Dylan Riley, Ryoto Nakamura, Siosaia Fifita; Takuya Yamasawa, Yutaka Nagare; Tevita Tatafu, Kazuki Himeno, Michael Leitch; Jack Cornelsen, Warner Dearns; Jiwon Gu, Atsushi Sakate (capt), Keita Inagaki
Replacements: Takeshi Hino, Craig Millar, Shuhei Takeuchi, Kanji Shimokawa, Faulua Makisi, Naoto Saito, Seunsin Lee, Gerhard van den Heever
New Zealand (15-1): Stephen Perofeta; Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Caleb Clarke; Richie Mo'unga, Finlay Christie; Hoskins Sotutu, Sam Cane (capt), Shannon Frizell; Tupou Vaa'i, Brodie Retallick; Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, George Bower
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tyrel Lomax, Patrick Tuipulotu, Dalton Papali'i, Aaron Smith, David Havili, Anton Lienert-Brown
