Leonard dropped

DURBAN – Prop Owen Franks and scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan have been added to the New Zealand team to play South Africa in Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash in Durban.

Franks, 21, will make his first starting appearance for the All Blacks after being selected at tighthead prop for Neemia Tialata, who sprained his right knee against the Springboks last weekend and was ruled out of the Durban match.Cowan replaced Brendon Leonard in the number nine shirt in the second of two changes to the run-on side that was beaten 28-19 in Bloemfontein.Leonard was dropped from the 22-man squad with Piri Weepu retained as the back-up scrumhalf while prop John Afoa joined the reserves after Franks was promoted to the starting side following three previous games off the bench.’I feel for Brendon because he was given an opportunity and it didn’t quite happen for him, partly because he reflected how the team was playing as a whole,’ coach Graham Henry told reporters yesterday.’He will be disappointed but I believe he has a lot of ability and has a big future, he just needs more game time.’Henry said Franks would add a mean edge to the All Black pack against a notoriously big set of Springbok forwards.’The bigger the challenge, the more excited he gets. Owen has shown he can stand up for himself, he’s got an edge to him, he rates himself, which is very important at this level, and he’ll be up for the contest.’He said Cowan would also bring a greater physical presence against a South African side which at times threatened to overwhelm the All Blacks in Bloemfontein. – Nampa-AFP