15 Jul 2009

Experience helped Donald get 10 jersey to play Wallabies

5:42 pm on 15 July 2009

The All Blacks' head coach Graham Henry says Stephen Donald's greater experience at first-five eighth is why he'll start in the tri-nations clash with the Wallabies and Luke McAlister will be on the bench.

Henry says after last week when neither player was fit it's been a real positive to have both available for Saturday's night's match in Auckland and Donald's 11 tests decided he'd start at Eden Park.

Graham Henry says Joe Rokocoko's poor form has seen him demoted the bench with Sitiveni Sivivatu returning to the wing after an injury break. Cory Jane's on the other wing.