New Zealand hand Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Stephen Perofeta first starts against Japan

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Stephen Perofeta have been named in the New Zealand starting 15 for the first time in a much-changed line-up for the test against Japan in Tokyo on Saturday.Tuivasa-Sheck will start at inside centre alongside Braydon Ennor, with Perofeta starting at full-back in Ian Foster’s team.Half-back Finlay Christie will play his second test in the number nine jersey, with incumbent Aaron Smith providing cover from the bench. Richie Mo’unga will direct traffic at fly-half.Despite some relatively new faces in the backline, Foster has named a strong forward pack, with Sam Cane back to lead the side.Midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown returns on the bench after missing the start of the season with injury.’This northern tour is going to be huge,’ Foster said in a statement. ‘We see four incredibly tough tests ahead and this one against Japan will ask some serious questions of us.’We want to show that we are ready to respond.’A number of first-choice players will miss the Japan test due to injury and personal reasons, including lock Sam Whitelock and the Barrett brothers.New Zealand won back-to-back tests against Australia to successfully defend their Rugby Championship title in September.After Japan, the All Blacks travel to Europe to face Wales, Scotland and England.New Zealand team vs Japan15-Stephen Perofeta, 14-Sevu Reece, 13-Braydon Ennor, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 11-Caleb Clarke, 10-Richie Mo’unga, 9-Finlay Christie, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 7-Sam Cane, 6-Shannon Frizell, 5-Tupou Vaa’i, 4-Brodie Retallick, 3-Nepo Laulala, 2-Dane Coles, 1-George BowerReplacements: 16-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17-Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18-Tyrel Lomax, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Dalton Papali’i, 21-Aaron Smith, 22-David Havili, 23-Anton Lienert-Brown