New Zealand have named Jimmy Cowan and Ben Franks in their starting XV to face South Africa on Saturday.
Cowan and Franks selected for Springboks clash
New Zealand have named Jimmy Cowan and Ben Franks in their starting XV to face South Africa on Saturday.
Cowan has been tasked with replacing Piri Weepu at scrum-half while Franks comes in at prop for his brother Owen, who drops out of the squad.
In other reserve changes, prop John Afoa makes it into the matchday 22 while full-back Israel Dagg will provide outside back cover.
Graham Henry said the All Blacks were expecting to face a "very different" Springboks side from the one that lost two matches in New Zealand in the opening rounds of the Tri-Nations.
Marvellous
"They will be hugely motivated to turn around those results and we are expecting a hugely physical encounter," he said.
"Playing the Springboks in Soweto in front of 90-thousand plus fans - it doesn't get much bigger than this. It's going to be a marvellous occasion, a massive challenge and one which the team is really looking forward to."
In milestones for the match, hooker Keven Mealamu will join former lock Ian Jones as the joint fifth-most capped All Black. Daniel Carter may also become his country's highest points scorer against South Africa: he is currently sitting on 207 points, two behind Andrew Mehrtens.
Meanwhile, Joe Rokocoko (on nine tries) is one try from equalling former All Blacks full-back Christian Cullen's record (10) of most tries scored against South Africa.
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Josevata Rokocoko, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 John Afoa, 18 Samuel Whitelock, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Israel Dagg.
