Mils Muliaina is pleased it is over and looking forward to more.

The All Blacks fullback endured a tough week leading into yesterday's test against Ireland but keen to play again against Munster on Wednesday.

He will have to come off the bench in the match to commemorate Munster's 12-0 win 30 years ago as Cory Jane will get his first start for the All Blacks at fullback.

Flanker Scott Waldrom and prop Ben Franks will also make their All Blacks debut while reserves Alby Mathewson and Hika Elliot, who were injury replacements in the squad, as the only players who won't have started on tour.

Wing Joe Rokocoko has been asked to start again after the 22-3 win against Ireland at Croke Park though Isaia Toeava, Stephen Donald, Piri Weepu and Corey Flynn were on the bench.

There was no room for Anthony Boric as Jason Eaton returns to the All Blacks after a two year absence and is joined by Ross Filipo at lock, with Brad Thorn on the bench.

It suggests Boric could start against Wales in Cardiff on Sunday while Richard Kahui's placement on the bench might indicate he too could be in that XV.

That's even more likely if the groin strain that forced Conrad Smith from the field in the second half at Croke Park proves to be more than just a niggle.

The other injury concern is to prop Tony Woodcock who left soon after Smith with a sore back.

The scrum has lost much of its power with the departures of Carl Hayman and Greg Somerville, while Andrew Hore's absence at hooker is also being felt. Losing Woodcock would be another big blow.

Muliaina missed the tests against Australia and Scotland on baby duty and had played only 120 minutes of rugby in the past two months before yesterday's test.

Which is why he was thrilled he would be playing again so soon, at Thomond Park.

"I'm pretty excited. The body is feeling really good. I just want to get sharper. There were a couple of times when I didn't feel as sharp as I want to be."

That was to be expected after so little rugby, but there were enough glimpses of brilliance from the backs to suggest they will only get better against Wales and then England.

Daniel Carter might have missed his first two penalties but his kicking in general play was spot on while he had several nice touches with the ball in hand.

Ma'a Nonu was a rampaging bullock at second five-eighth but also kicked astutely while Muliaina, Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu combined nicely.

"I think it's looking really good," Muliaina said of the backs' attack, "things are really starting to gel really nicely for the guys."

Muliaina had spent the week in Dublin juggling the demands of a test build up with jet lag and concern about his baby son, Max, who has a whole in his heart, and his wife Hayley.

They watched the Croke Park test from Auckland's Ronald McDonald house because Max has twice weekly hospital visits, but they are fine.

So too was Muliaina's form despite the disrupted build up.

He had a busy game yesterday, reading Ronan O'Gara like he'd written the Irish first five-eighth's play book and was the general at the back.

Backs coach Wayne Smith felt Sivivatu and Nonu, who scored a try after he put Rokocoko in space then stayed in support, had one of their better games for the All Blacks.

But he was stunned by Muliaina. "He was obviously playing for little Max and Hayley because he had a superb game."

Muliaina said his family's plight had "added a little bit of motivation". "Just thinking about them at home and wanting to prove that I could forget about the distractions and play for them."

New Zealand team to play Munster: Cory Jane, Hosea Gear, Joe Rokocoko, Anthony Tuitavake, Isaia Toeava, Stephen Donald, Piri Weepu, Liam Messam, Scott Waldrom, Adam Thomson, Ross Filipo, Jason Eaton, Ben Franks, Corey Flynn, Jamie Mackintosh. Reserves: Hika Elliot, John Afoa, Brad Thorn, Kieran Read, Alby Mathewson, Richard Kahui, Mils Muliaina.