Richie McCaw out, Ma'a Nonu set for New Zealand century

The All Blacks take on Tonga at St James' Park on Friday aiming to make it four wins from four and secure top spot in Pool C.

Flanker McCaw picked up a minor hip injury in the 43-10 defeat of Georgia last Friday and the omission means number eight Kieran Read will skipper the All Blacks in his absence.

Nonu - who made his All Blacks debut in 2003 - returns to the side at centre as part of six changes from the Georgia game made by head coach Steve Hansen, and will become New Zealand's sixth Test centurion.

Hansen said: "On behalf of the All Blacks, we would like to congratulate Ma'a on this special milestone. He has been an incredibly valued member of our group for a very long time.

"He has been fully committed to enhancing the All Blacks jersey and the values that go with it. He plays a special part within the group and loves this team.

"He and his family will be very proud of everything he's achieved, as we all are of him. We look forward to celebrating his achievement on Friday night."

According to Hansen, the All Blacks must be wary of their fellow Southern Hemisphere side, who upset France at this stage of the previous tournament in New Zealand four years ago.

"We've had a very heavy workload in the last two weeks on the training pitch and a couple of very physical games, which has been great," he said.

"But this week we've been looking to freshen the group up and really concentrate on the key parts of our game that we expect will deliver a quality, 80-minute performance on Friday night.

"We're now getting to an exciting part of the competition - one game out from knockout footy.

"We know the Tongans will be very physical and bring everything to this final Pool match. They're a proud nation who we've faced on a number of occasions.

"One only has to remember their last Pool match against France in 2011 [which Tonga won 19-14] to know that if you don't turn up, they will make life difficult for you."

New Zealand team in full: Ben Smith, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Waisake Naholo, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith; Tony Woodcock, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Samuel Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Same Cane, Kieran Read.

Substitutes: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Brodie Retallick, Liam Messam, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams.