the All-Blacks’ Rugby World Cup semi-final against Argentina.
The 26-year-old was dropped for the quarter-final victory over Ireland after a breach of team protocol.
His return is one of two changes to Ian Foster’s starting XV for Friday’s semi-final, with Sam Whitelock coming in for Brodie Retallick in the second row.
Argentina made one change for the game in Paris, with Gonzalo Bertranou replacing Tomas Cubelli at scrum-half.
New Zealand’s matchday squad contains 12 of the players that were involved in the 2019 semi-final defeat by England in Japan.
Telea, who crossed twice in the opening-game loss to hosts France, takes the place of Leicester Fainga’anuku, scorer of one of New Zealand’s three tries against Ireland.
“That’s the team we think best for this week,” said Foster. “He [Telea] has done his time. He made a mistake and accepted what happened but you don’t linger in that space.
“We have got a faith in him and think he is in good place to play this game.”
Seven players remain in the Argentina squad from the side that reached the semi-finals in 2015, including captain Julian Montoya and replacement fly-half Nicolas Sanchez, who scored a late interception try in the Pumas’ quarter-final win over Wales.
The winner of the first semi-final will play either England or South Africa in the final at the Stade de France on Saturday, 28 October.
Line-ups
Argentina: Mallia; Boffelli, Cinti, Chocobares, M Carreras; S Carreras, Bertranou; Gallo, Montoya (capt), Gomez Kodela, Petti, Lavanini, Gonzalez, Kremer, Isa.
Replacements: Creevy, Sclavi, Bello, Alemanno, Bruni, Bazan Velez, Sanchez, Moroni.
New Zealand: B Barrett; Jordan, Ioane, J Barrett, Telea; Mo’unga, Smith; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Whitelock, S Barrett, Frizell, Cane (capt), Savea.
Replacements: Taukei’aho, Williams, Newell, Retallick, Papalii, Christie, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown.