All Blacks make 10 changes

SUN CITY – New Zealand coach Graham Henry announced 10 changes to the All Black team for Saturday’s Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Rustenburg.

Flyhalf Daniel Carter and openside flank Richie McCaw are survivors, along with centre Mils Muliaina, wing Sitiveni Sivivatu and lock Ali Williams, from the team that saw off the Springboks 45-26 in Pretoria last weekend. “All the players will have two weeks off after Saturday and Richie and Dan Carter will probably have four or five weeks off before returning to their provinces,” Henry said.Doug Howlett comes in for his first test at fullback since 2003, while Jimmy Cowan (scrumhalf) makes his first start in an All Black jersey and hooker Andrew Hore returns to the starting line-up for the first time in two years.”Andrew and Jimmy have both been sitting on the bench for a long time and have played well when they’ve come on and have been great team men,” Henry said.”They deserve this opportunity of being in the run-on side.”Howlett returns to the team alongside Auckland team mate Joe Rokocoko, with the other wing being Rokocoko’s cousin Sivivatu, who scored a spectacular long-range try against the Springboks last weekend.The All Blacks back three look likely to test the flimsy wide defence of the South Africans once again.”If any balls come back our way via stray kicks, we will definitely pounce on them and look to attack,” Howlett warned.Aaron Mauger returns at inside centre, with Rodney So’oialo and Jerry Collins back in the loose trio and lock Chris Jack and props Carl Hayman and Tony Woodcock returning to the tight five.Henry said he expected the Springboks to mount a better challenge on Saturday.”The Springboks will be up for it, they’ve had very motivational press.I think they’ll make a couple of changes in personnel and in their style of play.It will be a cracker,” Henry said.The match will be played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium 87 km west of Pretoria, a new venue for test rugby, although the All Blacks did play in Rustenburg during the 1995 World Cup.Team: 15-Doug Howlett, 14-Joe Rokocoko, 13-Mils Muliaina, 12-Aaron Mauger, 11-Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10-Dan Carter, 9-Jimmy Cowan, 8-Rodney So’oialo, 7-Richie McCaw (capt), 6-Jerry Collins, 5-Ali Williams, 4-Chris Jack, 3-Carl Hayman, 2-Andrew Hore, 1-Tony Woodcock.Reserves: 16-Anton Oliver, 17-Neemia Tialata, 18-Jason Eaton, 19-Marty Holah, 20-Byron Kelleher, 21-Luke McAlister, 22-Rico Gear.Nampa-Reuters”All the players will have two weeks off after Saturday and Richie and Dan Carter will probably have four or five weeks off before returning to their provinces,” Henry said.Doug Howlett comes in for his first test at fullback since 2003, while Jimmy Cowan (scrumhalf) makes his first start in an All Black jersey and hooker Andrew Hore returns to the starting line-up for the first time in two years.”Andrew and Jimmy have both been sitting on the bench for a long time and have played well when they’ve come on and have been great team men,” Henry said.”They deserve this opportunity of being in the run-on side.”Howlett returns to the team alongside Auckland team mate Joe Rokocoko, with the other wing being Rokocoko’s cousin Sivivatu, who scored a spectacular long-range try against the Springboks last weekend.The All Blacks back three look likely to test the flimsy wide defence of the South Africans once again.”If any balls come back our way via stray kicks, we will definitely pounce on them and look to attack,” Howlett warned.Aaron Mauger returns at inside centre, with Rodney So’oialo and Jerry Collins back in the loose trio and lock Chris Jack and props Carl Hayman and Tony Woodcock returning to the tight five.Henry said he expected the Springboks to mount a better challenge on Saturday.”The Springboks will be up for it, they’ve had very motivational press.I think they’ll make a couple of changes in personnel and in their style of play.It will be a cracker,” Henry said.The match will be played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium 87 km west of Pretoria, a new venue for test rugby, although the All Blacks did play in Rustenburg during the 1995 World Cup.Team: 15-Doug Howlett, 14-Joe Rokocoko, 13-Mils Muliaina, 12-Aaron Mauger, 11-Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10-Dan Carter, 9-Jimmy Cowan, 8-Rodney So’oialo, 7-Richie McCaw (capt), 6-Jerry Collins, 5-Ali Williams, 4-Chris Jack, 3-Carl Hayman, 2-Andrew Hore, 1-Tony Woodcock.Reserves: 16-Anton Oliver, 17-Neemia Tialata, 18-Jason Eaton, 19-Marty Holah, 20-Byron Kelleher, 21-Luke McAlister, 22-Rico Gear.Nampa-Reuters