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| | Thursday, 18 July, 2002, 04:53 GMT 05:53 UK Springboks ring the changes James Dalton is back at the heart of the 'Boks South Africa have made three changes to the team which overpowered Samoa 60-18 two weeks ago for Saturday's Tri Nations clash against New Zealand. Front rowers Faan Rautenbach and Danie Coetzee make way for prop Willie Meyer and hooker James Dalton, while specialist lock Jannes Labuschagne replaces Hottie Louw. The All Blacks enter the game as favourites after their hard fought 12-6 victory over defending champions Australia in Christchurch last weekend. And the Springboks are happy that the pressure is instead on New Zealand to perform. Springboks skipper Corne Krige said: "It's nice for us that no-one is giving us a chance but we feel differently to that. We have self-belief. "We have prepared as well as we can for this test," he said. "There is no way we will leave being happy with just a close loss." Both sides will be hoping the forecast for fine weather proves correct.
The opening match between the Kiwis and Australia was marred by cold and wet conditions, prompting All Black scrum-half Justin Marshall to admit that the game had been spoiled. "We want, as much as the spectators do, to be able to use the ball," Marshall said. "Our team strategy and patterns revolve around running with the ball." The Springboks have a lamentable away record in the Tri-Nations with just two wins in 12 attempts. New Zealand won last year's match 26-15 in Auckland but Marshall said much had since changed in the Springbok set-up. Among those changes is the introduction of lively young scrum-half Johannes Conradie. The Stormers number nine was in excellent form during this season's Super 12 and Marshall remembers him well from thei meeting in Christchurch
"He had it tough that day because the Stormers weren't at full strength, but he showed enough to me that he's a good player," said the Canterbury scrum-half. "It's refreshing coming up against someone who is new. I try not to focus too much on the opposition, preferring to sort out my own game. "But he'll be playing his first game for the Springboks in New Zealand and will be out to impress." Marshall said he was unfamiliar with many of the South Africans but believed they would be impressive opponents. "I do know they will be determined because they always are, and with a new coach (Rudolph Straeuli) they could have a few surprises in store for us," he said. New Zealand: 15-Christian Cullen; 14-Doug Howlett, 13-Mark Robinson, 12-Aaron Mauger, 11-Caleb Ralph; 10-Andrew Mehrtens, 9-Justin Marshall; 8-Scott Robertson, 7-Richard McCaw, 6-Reuben Thorne (captain), 5-Simon Maling, 4-Chris Jack, 3-Greg Somerville, 2-Mark Hammett, 1-Dave Hewett. Replacements: 16-Tom Willis, 17-Joe McDonnell, 18-Royce Willis, 19-Sam Broomhall, 20-Byron Kelleher, 21-Tana Umaga, 22-Jonah Lomu. South Africa: 15-Werner Greeff; 14-Stefan Terblanche, 13-Marius Joubert, 12-Dean Hall, 11-De Wet Barry; 10-Andre Pretorius, 9-Johannes Conradie; 8-Bob Skinstad, 7-Joe van Niekerk, 6-Corne Krige (captain), 5-Jannes Labuschagne, 4-Victor Matfield, 3-Willie Meyer, 2-James Dalton, 1-Lawrence Sephaka. Replacements: 16-Ollie Le Roux, 17-Faan Rautenbach, 18-AJ Venter, 19-Hendro Scholtz, 20-Neil de Kock, 21-Adrian Jacobs, 22-Breyton Paulse. | |
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