They might be the fiercest of rugby rivals, but New Zealand coach Graham Henry jumped to the defence of his Australian counterpart Robbie Deans after he was criticised in the wake of the Wallabies' stunning loss to Samoa.

The Pacific Island nation claimed the biggest scalp in their Test history by beating the world's No.2 ranked side 32-23 in Sydney on Sunday and the media have been quick to put the boot into New Zealand-born Deans after the shock loss.

He has been accused of arrogance after fielding an under-strength side against Samoa, choosing to rest players from the Queensland Reds, who won the Super Rugby title.

Henry said the criticism is ill-founded.

Perhaps that's because the All Blacks are following a similar method in their Test against Fiji on Friday, with only four of the starting team from their last Test against Wales in November - fullback Mils Muiliaina, centre Conrad Smith, halfback Jimmy Cowan and captain Richie McCaw - named in the run-on side.

All Blacks' selectors were keen to rest key players after an arduous Super Rugby campaign for the Crusaders and Blues, and the Fiji game will allow them to do that ahead of the Tri Nations.

Henry said win or lose, resting players at this point is the right move for Australia and New Zealand.

"Robbie's got a bit of stick from the media which I think is questionable," he said.

"How does he play those Reds players? Throw them out there again - kill 'em? Or be pragmatic?

"He was hoping that he'd do the business without the Reds players, but it didn't happen that way, so he gets a lot of stick for making the right decision.

"I've got some sympathy for him."

Henry kept the top coaching job in New Zealand rugby after the All Blacks crashed out in the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Cup to France, forcing Deans to move offshore to realise his international coaching ambitions.

The loss means Deans' three-year tenure has yielded 24 wins from 44 Tests but Henry said not enough credit had been given to Samoa for their performance.

The result had served as a lesson for the All Blacks ahead of Friday's Test against a side who concede on average 76 points a game against New Zealand.

"It just shows you that any side in the world in the top 10 or so can do the job. You've just got to prepare correctly," he said.

Despite the negativity in the Australian media after the result, Henry believes the upset will not be detrimental for the Wallabies.

"In the long term, it won't do the Australians any harm. It'll give them an extra edge, an extra determination. They've had a wake-up call."

Lock Jarrad Hoeata was named to make his Test debut and partner the returning Ali Williams for New Zealand's one-off Test against Fiji in Dunedin.

Included in the All Blacks' Tri-Nations squad after impressing for the Highlanders, Hoeata will partner 61-Test veteran Williams in the second row for the first time.

A series of injuries has prevented Williams playing at Test level since late 2008.

Others returning to the team for the first time since 2009 are Crusaders' prop Wyatt Crockett and Highlanders' winger Ben Smith.

The team will be captained by flanker Richie McCaw while his Crusaders' team-mate Dan Carter has been named on the reserves bench, with Colin Slade starting the match at five-eighth and Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu in the centres.

All Blacks team: Mils Muliaina, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Liam Messam, Richie McCaw (capt), Adam Thomson, Ali Williams, Jarrad Hoeata, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Wyatt Crockett. Res: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Piri Weepu, Dan Carter, Ben Smith.

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