New Zealand v South Africa: Teams

Carter: starts at stand-off

The Springboks look to have their work cut out this weekend as they prepare to field a severely weakened side against a near full-strength All Blacks.

With 21 front-line players listed as injured, South Africa appear woefully short on experienced Test players ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations clash in Wellington.

There has been intense speculation surrounding South Africa's team selection ahead of the World Cup in September, including suggestions of underhand tactics in some quarters.

The Springbok's were accused of holding a secret World Cup training camp after it was revealed that the missing 'injured' stars were all together in Rustenberg, an accusation hotly denied by officials.

Captain John Smit and Morne Steyn are the only survivors from the starting XV that faced the All Blacks the last time the sides met in Johannesburg last year.

Attacking ability

And 11 of the Springbok line-up who will take the field in Wellington on Saturday have played fewer than eight Tests.

South Africa have made four personnel changes and two position switches to the team that was humbled by Australia in their Tri-Nations opener in Sydney last week.

Gerhard Mostert will make his debut in the second row alongside Alistair Hargreaves, who has just three caps, while number eight Ashley Johnson has been relegated to the bench.

Coach Peter de Villiers has also given Patrick Lambie an opportunity to show his instinctive attacking ability with ball in hand.

Lambie has been handed the number 10 shirt for the Wellington showdown, while Steyn replaces him at full-back.

With competition for places on Graham Henry's World Cup squad becoming increasingly hot, there will be plenty of All Blacks looking to stake their claim on Saturday

Stuttering

Highlander's back row Adam Thompson will be aiming to put the heat on Jerome Kaino after he was named at number eight for the clash.

Kaino will start at flanker alongside Richie McCaw, while in-form back row Keiren Read is among a group of rested All Blacks that includes Brad Thorn, Owen Franks and Keven Mealamu.

Fly-half Dan Carter however, returns to Henry's starting XV after playing just 20 minutes of last week's victory against Fiji.

New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements:16 Corey Flynn, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Liam Messam, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.

South Africa: 15 Pat Lambie, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Adi Jacobs, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Gerhard Mostert, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 John Smit (capt), 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Ryan Kankowski, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Wynand Olivier, 22 Odwa Ndungane.