Barrett needed 12 stitches to repair the cut sustained in the victory over Ireland in Chicago on November 1 and was absent for last weekend’s 25-17 win against Scotland.
The 87-cap veteran second-row came through a crucial training session on Tuesday and will take charge of grand slam-chasing New Zealand, with openside Ardie Savea dropping to vice captain.
Super-sub Damian McKenzie continues on the bench despite producing the late try that nudged the All Blacks over the line at Murrayfield, with Beauden Barrett continuing at fly-half.
Leicester Fainga’anuku moves to the left wing after Caleb Clarke was ruled out of the Hillary Shield showdown because of concussion. Five of the last seven games between the All Blacks and England have been decided by three points or less.
New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson insists his side would welcome a challenge to the haka from England. Twelve months ago England advanced to the halfway line to the delight of an 82,000 crowd at Twickenham before being edged 24-22, while in 2019 they lined up in a V formation before crushing the All Blacks 19-7 in the World Cup semi-finals.
Extra spice was given to last autumn’s Hillary Shield showdown when prop Joe Marler, who has now retired, stated the haka is “ridiculous” and “needs binning”, provoking a furious backlash in New Zealand. The build-up to the rematch has been less controversial but Robertson understands the sporting theatre provided by opponents responding to the Maori war dance.
“The haka’s setting a challenge and if someone does something different, respectfully, you welcome it,” the All Blacks head coach said.
“There are always rules of engagement around it, but they know what we’re going to do. If you haven’t planned or covered off what they’re going to do, it can be unexpected, and that’s part of it.”
New Zealand: Jordan; Carter, Proctor, Tupaea, Fainga’anuku; B Barrett, Roigard, De Groot, Taylor (vc), Newell, S Barrett (c), Holland, Parker, Savea (vc), Lakai. Reps: Taukei’aho, Williams, Tosi, Lord, Sititi, Ratima, Lienert-Brown, McKenzie
