All Blacks make changes for Springbok test

New Zealand coach Wayne Smith has made four changes from the side that lost to Australia for the All Blacks's Tri-Nations test…

New Zealand coach Wayne Smith has made four changes from the side that lost to Australia for the All Blacks's Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Auckland on Saturday.

Following the 23-15 defeat to the Wallabies, Smith has dropped halfbacks Justin Marshall and Tony Brown, flanker Reuben Thorne and wing Doug Howlett.

Recalled to the side are flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens and fullback Leon MacDonald, with lock Chris Jack and scrumhalf Byron Kelleher promoted from the bench.

Troy Flavell switches from lock to flank to make way for Jack while Jeff Wilson moves to the wing to accommodate MacDonald.

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New Zealand:15-Leon MacDonald; 14-Jeff Wilson, 13-Tana Umaga, 12-Pita Alatini, 11-Jonah Lomu; 10-Andrew Mehrtens, 9-Byron Kelleher; 8-Ron Cribb, 7-Taine Randell, 6-Troy Flavell, 5-Chris Jack, 4-Norm Maxwell, 3-Greg Somerville, 2-Anton Oliver (captain), 1-Carl Hoeft.

Replacements:Mark Hammett, Carl Hayman, Mark Cooksley, Marty Holah, Justin Marshall, Tony Brown, Doug Howlett.

South Africa:15-Conrad Jantjes, 14-Breyton Paulse, 13-Robbie Fleck or Andre Snyman, 12-Braan van Straaten, 11-Dean Hall, 10-Butch James, 9-Joost van der Westhuizen, 8-Bobby Skinstad (capt), 7-Andre Venter, 6-Andre Vos, 5-Mark Andrews, 4-Victor Matfield, 3-Cobus Visagie, 2-Lukas van Biljon, 1-Robbie Kempson.

Replacements:16-John Smit, 17-Ollie le Roux, 18-Albert van den Berg, 19-Johann van Niekerk, 20-Neil de Kock, 21-Deon Kayser, 22-Thinus Delport