Henry defends his changes

New Zealand coach Graham Henry insisted on Tuesday that he had named a "very strong Test team" to play Wales despite resting captain Tana Umaga and awarding new caps to two players.

Open-side flanker Richie McCaw will skipper a side featuring nine changes to the starting line-up which accounted for Italy, 59-10, in Rome last weekend.

Piru Weepu, who is considered one of New Zealand's most promising scrum-halves, gets his first taste of Test rugby in place of experienced campaigner Byron Kelleher.

And after giving Conrad Smith a start at outside centre against Italy, Henry has awarded Casey Laulala his debut in the All Blacks midfield.

"There are no inconsistencies," said Henry, who had vowed to treat Wales with the utmost respect.

"I think we are fielding a very strong Test team. We have got some strength in New Zealand in the centre, it is probably the strongest part of our game at the moment and we couldn't play them all.

"There are not wholesale changes, the nucleus of the side is there. We have done what we planned to do prior to leaving New Zealand and we are pleased we have been able to carry on with that programme - that is to have two strong sides play Italy and Wales."

Aaron Mauger starts at inside centre, and behind a new front row, Ali Williams returns into the second row and Jerry Collins is replaced by Rodney So'oialo on the blindside flank.

McCaw, officially Umaga's vice-captain, skippered Canterbury to the National Provincial Title in New Zealand and has been targeted as a long-term leader of the All Blacks.

"We have a huge respect for what Richie McCaw did as captain for Canterbury. They played some outstanding rugby. He is a captain of the future and we need to blood him to some extent," said Henry.

That is the approach New Zealand have taken to this tour, particularly with the British & Irish Lions touring their next summer.

Carlos Spencer was not fit to tour, but both fly-half Andrew Mehrtens and scrum-half Justin Marshall were rested from the tour so Henry could blood the next generation.

Henry and his assistant Steve Hansen are both former coaches of Wales, returning to coach against their old side at the Millennium Stadium.

"It does feel a bit strange coaching a side playing against Wales, but it is good to be back," said Henry.