S Africa v NZ: Teams
New Zealand have made 11 changes to face South Africa in the Tri-Nations on Saturday, live on Sky Sports HD4.
Last Updated: 19/08/11 10:27am
New Zealand have made 11 changes to their starting XV for the Tri-Nations clash with South Africa in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, live on Sky Sports HD4.
Coach Graham Henry has given several fringe players to stake their claims for a World Cup place ahead of announcement of the final 30-man squad next Tuesday.
Full-back Israel Dagg, wing Isaia Toeava and centre Richard Kahui are all handed their first Test starts of the season after recovering from injury problems.
Sonny Bill Williams partners Kahui in the midfield, while scrum-half Jimmy Cowan and stand-off Colin Slade form a new half-back partnership.
Prop Tony Woodcock also makes a comeback from injury and is joined in the front row by Blues team-mates John Afoa and Keven Mealamu, who will captain the side in the absence of Richie McCaw.
Elsewhere in the pack, lock Sam Whitelock and loose forwards Liam Messam and Adam Thomson are brought into the side.
"There is excitement across the board in the squad and every player will be looking to put in a big performance this weekend," Henry said.
"Playing the Springboks at home is always a massive occasion and with rugby World Cup spots also up for grabs, our players will be looking to put in a big performance."
Springboks
South Africa captain John Smit has been dropped to the bench for the Springboks' final Tri-Nations contest against New Zealand on Saturday.
Smit suffered an elbow injury during last weekend's 14-9 defeat to Australia, but it was a bout of flu that made him a doubt for the clash against the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth.
The 33-year-old hooker is set to recover in time for the match but has only been named among the replacements, as Bismarck du Plessis comes into the front row in one of five changes to the starting XV.
Gurthro Steenkamp is named in place of Tendai Mtawarira at prop, while experienced lock Victor Matfield will skipper the side in the absence of Smit.
Willem Alberts is handed a start at flanker, while Danie Rossouw drops to the bench and Morne Steyn comes back in at fly-half to replace Butch James.
The final change sees Patrick Lambie start at full-back instead of Frans Steyn, who was ruled out of the clash with a hamstring injury.
The Springboks, playing in their final match before the defence of their World Cup title, will be looking to salvage some pride and avoid a whitewash of four Tri-Nations defeats.
South Africa: 15 Pat Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Victor Matfield (capt), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 CJ van der Linde , 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Ashley Johnson, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Butch James.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Isaia Toeava, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Jimmy Cowan; 8 Liam Messam, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (capt), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Cory Jane.