Woodward chops six from Test side

Catt and Dawson were gambles that failed to pay off as Woodward opted for their experience despite concerns over the injury-hit pair's lack of match practice. He also admitted it was a selection error in opting for Jones instead of Worsley, who makes a deserved return to the starting line-up.

Besides calling up Worsley for Jones, Abbott instead of Catt and Voyce ahead of Simpson-Daniel, Woodward has chosen Andy Gomarsall at scrum-half rather than Dawson, Steve Borthwick at lock where Grewcock operated and hooker Mark Regan for Thompson.

Woodward said: "I haven't overreacted and players like Thompson and Dawson are not at their best at the moment. When they are, they are the best in the world.

"We didn't lose because of individuals in Dunedin, we got out-muscled in every area of the game. Now, we have to front up on Saturday from top to bottom and perform.

"We can turn it around in seven days even though we haven't been the same since the World Cup. You don't become a poor team overnight. We didn't prepare well for what happened after the World Cup and I admit I didn't think about that."

A poignant reminder of happier days was provided by Martin Johnson, the World Cup winning captain, who met Woodward for tea in the team's harbourside hotel today. "I will ask him if he has his boots," was Woodward's throw-away comment, but you knew he really wished it was a possibility.

Instead, it's down to men like Wasps flanker Worsley, who said: "We have regressed in the eyes of New Zealand fans having arrived as the world champions and that does upset me, particularly when it means taking stick in a coffee shop in Auckland yesterday. A guy came up to me and shouted "Oo, oo Umaga!" (the All Blacks captain Tana Umaga) and all you can do is just sit there take the stick.

"It's great to have so many Wasps guys in the side and it will help because we do know each other so well. It's really unusual to have so many and it's a real feat for Wasps. But this game is about the whole 15 playing at their very best."

All Black wing Doug Howlett was left out because of a shoulder injury sustained in Dunedin and Mils Muliaina moves from full-back with Nick Evans starting at No15. There is a doubt over flanker Richie McCaw who has complained of headaches since the first Test.

Veteran f ly-half Andrew Mehrtens is among the replacements having been left out of last weekend's squad.