All Blacks team naming against Japan (My 1st blog of November (AKA the mustache month of Movember)

Well, the All Blacks have named their team against the Kiwi born Michael Leitch led Japan (Coached by former All Black & Japan international as well as ex Highlanders & Sunwolves coach Jamie Joseph but it's been 5 years since the AB's last met Japan (Well that was worth the wait with just a year out from the Rugby World Cup next year) at Ajinomoto Stadium in Chofu, Tokyo so here is the starting lineup in it's entirety:

FRONT ROW
1 (Loose head prop): Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland/Blues)
2 (Hooker): Dane Coles (Wellington/Hurricanes)
3 (Tight head prop): Angus Ta'avao (Taranaki/Chiefs)

SECOND ROW
4 (Lock): Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland/Blues)
5 (Lock): Jackson Hemopo (Manawatu/Highlanders)

BACK ROW
6 (Blindside Flanker): Vaea Fifita (Wellington/Hurricanes)
7 (Openside Flanker): Dalton Papali'i (Auckland/Blues)
8 (Number 8): Luke Whitelock (Captain, Canterbury/Highlanders)

HALVES
9 (Half-back): Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki/Chiefs)
10 (First five eighth): Richie Mo'unga (Canterbury/Crusaders)

MIDFIELD
12 (Second five eighth): Ngani Laumape (Manawatu/Hurricanes)
13 (Centre): Matt Proctor (Wellington/Hurricanes)

OUTSIDE BACKS
11 (Left Wing): Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders)
14 (Right Wing): Nehe Milner-Skudder (Manawatu/Highlanders)
& 15 (Fullback): Jordie Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes)

And in the reserves are:

16. Liam Coltman (Who replaces Nathan Harris)
17. Tim Perry (Who replaces Karl Tu'inukuafe)
18. Tyrel Lomax (Who replaces Nepo Laulala to make his test debut off the bench)
19. Dillon Hunt (Who also replaces Brodie Retallick to make his test debut off the bench)
20. Gareth Evans (Who replaces Matt Todd in line for an All Black test debut off the bench)
21. Mitchell Drummond (Who replaces Aaron Smith for a test debut for the All Blacks off the bench)
22. Brett Cameron (Who replaces Richie Mo'unga who is elevated to the starting lineup to replace Beauden Barrett to make his test debut off the bench)
& 23. George Bridge (Who replaces Anton Lienert-Brown to make his test debut off the bench for the AB's).

So that is my 245th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 65th of this year.