The All Blacks begin their 2008 Test season this Saturday, beginning against the Irish in Wellington.

Both teams were announced yesterday, and it really is shaping up to be a great Test. The All Blacks will want to start their season off with a bang, and Ireland will be looking to make history by beating the new-look All Blacks - a draw in 1973 is as close as they've been.

Graham Henry has chosen to go with as many Super 14 combinations as possible, which will (he hopes...) help gel the team together. It's still early days yet, but we think we'll see the coaches play around with a few different combinations - it'll take some time for the players to familiarise themselves with one another.

Crusaders teammates Andy Ellis and Dan Carter (yes folks, he's here 'til 2011), make up the halves, with Hurricanes midfielders Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith playing outside them in the centers.

With Conrad getting the nod at center, Mils Muliaina returns to fullback - forcing Leon MacDonald to the bench. Add Anthony Tuitavake (making his debut) and Sitivini Sivivatu to the backline, and the All Blacks have themselves a very attacking force.

Ireland - and England, for that matter - should be nervous.

The biggest change sees Rodney So'oialo move from his traditional position of number 8 to the blindside, replacing his long-time teammate Jerry Collins. This makes way for Jerome Kaino to return to the All Blacks after missing out on the squad last year, and it seems that the coaches have gone for the old 'smash-em-up-the-middle' approach.

Ali Williams will team up with Brad Thorn in the locking department, and they should be pretty used to that by now. They've been the two standout locks in the Super 14 this year, and they rightly deserve their selections. The fact that they are both veterans now only adds to their worth in the team.

It's a new-look front row, with Anton Oliver and Carl Hayman both in Europe, and Tony Woodcock injured and therefore unavailable for the Irish Test. This means John Afoa and Neemia Tialata will start at prop, while in-form hooker Andre Hore seals his place in the starting 15. They'll have their work cut out for them - the Irish pack has quite a formidable feel.

Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson and Stephen Donald will all make their debuts off the bench, topping off their fantastic Super 14 campaigns - good luck lads!

Here's the line up:

1. John Afoa
2. Andrew Hore
3. Neemia Tialata
4. Brad Thorn
5. Ali Williams
6. Rodney So'oialo
7. Richie McCaw (c)
8. Jerome Kaino
9. Andy Ellis
10. Dan Carter
11. Anthony Tuitavake
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Sitivini Sivivatu
15. Mils Muliaina

Reserves: John Schwalger, Kevin Mealamu, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Leon MacDonald.

Ireland have also named their starting lineup for the Test on Saturday, including 8 players from the Champion Munster team and Brian O'Driscoll as captain.

Glad Tana isn't there, Brian?

Heres their starting 15:

1. John Hayes
2. Jerry Flannery
3. Marcus Horan
4. Paul O'Connell
5. Donncha O'Callaghan
6.Denis Leamy
7. David Wallace
8. Jaime Heaslip
9. Eoin Reddan
10. Ronan O'Gara
11. Tommy Bowe
12. Luke Fitzgerald (if he gets over an ankle injury in time)
13. Brian O'Driscoll (c)
14. Shane Horgan
15. Robert Kearney

Reserves: Girvan Dempsey, Paddy Wallace, Peter Stringer, Shane Jennings, Mick O'Driscoll, Tony Buckley, Rory Best.