Wellington, Johannesburg: All Blacks selectors resisted the chance to experiment a year out from the World Cup and named a vastly experienced squad Sunday for the upcoming three-Test series against England.

Only three uncapped players made the 31-man squad with coach Steve Hansen dismissing suggestions England were down on manpower.

Lock Patrick Tuipulotu and centre Malakai Fekitoa are new faces in the squad to be lead by 124-Test veteran Richie McCaw.

The other is scrum-half TJ Perenara who was on the All Blacks northern tour last year but did not take the field.

Of the 23 players involved in the famous 24-22 victory over Ireland at the end of that tour, which saw the All Blacks become the first team in the professional era to go through a calendar year undefeated, only Steven Luatua is missing.

He’s been muscled out of a bulging group of experienced loose forwards by the return of Jerome Kaino from Japan and a resurgence in form of Victor Vito. Both were part of the 2011 World Cup-winning All Blacks.

England arrived in New Zealand without several top players who were involved in this weekend’s Premiership final, won by Northampton 24-20 over Saracens, and will be unavailable for next weekend’s first Test.

However, a diplomatic Hansen said he still rated England as a “formidable opponent” and the most improved side in the world over the past two years.

“Those who think England will be fielding a weak side in the first Test are completely underestimating the quality of depth in the England squad,” he said, underlining the importance of the series ahead of the 2015 World Cup. The All Blacks play England in Auckland on June 7, in Dunedin on June 14 and Hamilton on June 21.

“If we can play well we’ll have the psychological advantage. Conversely, if they play well they’ll have the psychological advantage going into next year’s World Cup.”

Meanwhile, veteran forwards Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger are among a number of long-time absentees recalled to the South Africa squad for the June internationals against Wales and Scotland.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer named a 36-man selection for the two Tests against Wales and single encounter with Scotland that also includes seven uncapped players.

Aside from lock Matfield and loose-forward Burger, who have not played since the 2011 World Cup, there are also recalls for hooker Schalk Brits, centre Juan de Jongh, scrum-half Francois Hougaard, wing Lwazi Mvovo and utility back Frans Steyn, all having last played test rugby in 2012.

“Last year we saw what it meant to Bakkies [Botha], Fourie [du Preez] and Jaque [Fourie] when they returned and they showed that age should not be any measure when it comes to test rugby — if you have the goods and can perform at world-class level, you deserve to be selected,” Meyer said in a statement released by the South African Rugby Union on Saturday.

“Victor and Schalk have both been out of the game for some time and for different reasons. A year ago, Schalk’s playing future was in doubt, so it’s great to have him back in the Bok fold and I’m looking forward to working with him for the first time.”

The seven uncapped players are centre Damian de Allende, lock Lood de Jager, wing Cornal Hendricks, loose forward Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje, wing S’bura Sithole, prop Marcel van der Merwe and hooker Callie Visagie.