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New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has been ruled out of Saturday's Tri-Nations Test against Australia because he has not sufficiently recovered from an ankle injury.

McCaw had been bracketed with fellow openside flanker Daniel Braid, who will now start the game at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.

McCaw was a surprise inclusion when the team was named on Tuesday.

He suffered the injury last month against England and had been expected to be out for a minimum of six weeks.

He joins Australian captain Stirling Mortlock on the sidelines, with Mortlock failing to recover from a knock to the head in his side's 16-9 victory over South Africa last Saturday.

Wellington Hurricanes captain Rodney So'oialo will again lead the side in McCaw's absence.

Revised squad: 15-Mils Muliaina, 14-Anthony Tuitavake, 13-Richard Kahui, 12-Ma'a Nonu, 11-Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10-Dan Carter, 9-Andy Ellis, 8-Jerome Kaino, 7-Daniel Braid, 6-Rodney So'oialo (captain), 5-Ali Williams, 4-Brad Thorn, 3-Greg Somerville, 2-Andrew Hore, 1-Tony Woodcock

Replacements: 16-Keven Mealamu, 17-John Afoa, 18-Anthony Boric, 19-Sione Lauaki, 20-Jimmy Cowan, 21-Stephen Donald, 22-Conrad Smith

Reuters