BOKS LOOK FOR FRESH START:

Springboks rugby coach Jake White has made five changes to his team to face the All Blacks on Sunday, recalling veteran loose forward AJ Venter, axing fullback Percy Montgomery and promoting Andre Pretorius to first five-eighth.

White recalled Venter for his 24th Test, replacing Jacques Cronje in the No.8 jersey for the Tri-Nations fixture in Rustenberg as the Springboks look to end a five-match losing streak.

In other changes from the All Blacks' 45-26 victory in Pretoria, Pretorius replaces Butch James in the No.10 jersey; centre Wynand Olivier comes off the bench with Jaque Fourie moving out to replace Montgomery at fullback; Bulls flanker Pedrie Wannenburg replaces Solly Tyibilika on the blindside flank and prop BJ Botha replaces CJ van der Linde who has a neck injury.

The inclusion of Pretorius and the shifting of Fourie to fullback suggests a more open, running game after the Springboks kicked plenty of possession away last weekend.

White said Montgomery had a stomach bug this week, which contributed to his decision to omit the veteran fullback.

Venter, who last played for the Springboks against England in Twickenham in 2004, returns from captaining the Sharks in the Currie Cup and is expected to bring some experience to a loose forward trio missing injured pair Schalk Burger and Joe van Niekerk.

Wing Breyton Paulse and prop Lawrence Sephaka have been recalled to the bench.

White gave his team the day off training to clear their heads yesterday, with some of them hitting the golf course.

"We had a nice stern talk last night in terms of what their expectations are and we expect them to get it right," he said.

South Africa:

Jaque Fourie, Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Andre Pretorius, Fourie du Preez, AJ Venter, Pierre Spies, Pedrie Wannenburg, Victor Matfield, Johann Muller, BJ Botha, John Smit (captain), Os du Randt.

Reserves: Chilliboy Ralepelle, Lawrence Sephaka, Albert van den Berg, Jacques Cronje, Ruan Pienaar, Butch James, Breyton Paulse.

HENRY KEEPS ROTATION POLICY:

New Zealand have made 10 changes for their final Tri-Nations match against South Africa in Rustenburg on Saturday.

Only captain Richie McCaw, Ali Williams, Dan Carter, Mils Muliaina and Sitiveni Sivivatu remain from the 45-26 victory over the Boks last weekend.

The All Blacks will field a potent back three as Doug Howlett comes in at full-back, while Joe Rokocoko partners cousin Sivivatu on the wings.

Hooker Keven Mealamu and scrum-half Piri Weepu have both been rested.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said their replacements, Andrew Hore and Jimmy Cowan, deserved their chance to shine.

"They've both been great team men and have played well from the bench. They have earned their opportunity," said Henry.

"Doug Howlett has played at fullback for Auckland, the Blues and the All Blacks - it's an exciting combination to have him alongside Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu."

New Zealand:

Doug Howlett; Joe Rokocoko, Mils Muliaina, Aaron Mauger, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore, Carl Hayman, Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo.
Replacements: Anton Oliver, Neemia Tialata, Jason Eaton, Marty Holah, Byron Kelleher, Luke McAlister, Rico Gear.

Tri-Nations Table:
26 August 2006
Team P PD PTS
1 New Zealand 5 68 22
2 Australia 5 20 11
3 South Africa 4 -88 1

SOUTH AFRICA 26 NEW ZEALAND 45

South Africa 26 (11)
Tries: De Preez, Fourie (2)
Cons: Pretorius
Pens: Montgomery (2), James

New Zealand 45 (16)
Tries: Tialata, McAlister, Sivivatu, Muliaina, Gear
Cons: Carter (4)
Pens: Carter (4)

The All Blacks confirmed their status as the dominant side in the 2006 Tri-Nations with a crushing victory over South Africa in Pretoria.

A burst of three tries in the middle of the second half took the visitors away from the Springboks after the home side had taken an early lead.

Inspired kicking by Daniel Carter and the running of Jerry Collins and Mils Muliaina were key to the Kiwis' win.

Two late tries from Jaque Fourie put a gloss on the scoreline for the hosts.

Carter's performance enabled the All Blacks to fight back in a first half that the Springboks seemed set to dominate.

After both sides had traded early penalties, the home side got their noses in front when Fourie de Preez took advantage of a Kiwi error at the breakdown to scoot clear 15 metres out and cross in the corner.

The Springboks dominated the next 10 minutes, constantly disrupting the All Blacks lineout, but a succession of missed tackles allowed the visitors back in.

Carter's cute cross-kick after a Rico Gear break put Tialata over in the left corner, and his magnificent conversion put the All Blacks in front.

Gear and Toeava managed to throw away a gilt-edged chance to extend their lead, the latter dropping the ball when clear 10 metres from the try line.

But Carter then lined up a penalty from fully 62 metres, sent the ball sailing through the high veldt air and cleared the bar with ease for an extraordinary three points.

Worse was to follow for the Springboks. They came out of the traps fast at the start of the second half but were rocked back immediately by another Carter penalty before the All Blacks took the game away from them with a burst of three unanswered tries.

Akona Ndungane made a break down the left wing but kicked the ball to Muliaina, who scythed through the static home defence before feeding Luke McAlister to power through under the posts.

South Africa were then caught napping by two quickly-taken tap penalties.

First Jerry Collins took advance of the sleepy defence to put Sitiveni Sivivatu into space on the left, and the winger's pace did the rest.

McAlister then returned the favour to Muliaina after breaking clear on halfway, and the All Blacks were rampant.

The home crowd had started booing their own players with a good 25 minutes left on the clock.

There was still time for Fourie to run in two tries with smartly-timed runs to re-ignite the final ten minutes.

But more smart work from Collins snuffed out the Springbok flame with three minutes to go, his clever kick ahead allowing Gear to jog home unopposed.

South Africa had not lost at home to the Kiwis since their 52-16 defeat in 2003.

South Africa:
Montgomery, Ndungane, Fourie, de Villiers, Habana; James, du Preez; du Randt, Smit (captain), van der Linde, Muller, Matfield, Tyibilika, Cronje.
Replacements: Olivier, Pretorius, Pienaar, van den Berg, Ralepelle, Botha, Spies.

New Zealand:
MacDonald; Gear, Muliaina, McAlister, Sivivatu, Carter, Weepu; Tialata, Oliver, Somerville; Rawlinson, Williams, Thorne, McCaw (capt), Masoe.
Replacements: Mealamu, Woodcock, Jack, Collins, Cowan, Tuitupou, Toeava.

TRI NATIONS TABLE:

Team P PD PTS
1 New Zealand 5 68 22
2 Australia 5 20 11
3 South Africa 4 -88 1

11 CHANGES BY ALL BLACKS:

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has made 11 changes to the side that beat Australia for Saturday's Tri-Nations game against South Africa in Pretoria.
Only Luke McAlister, Dan Carter, Mils Muliaina and Richie McCaw survive from the starting XV that beat the Wallabies 34-27 in Auckland last week.

Sitiveni Sivivatu gets his first Test call-up this year on the left wing.

Leon MacDonald plays at full-back, with Rico Gear on the right wing, as the All Blacks seek a 15th consecutive win.

New Zealand also field a new-look front five as they aim for their first win in South Africa since 2003, when they thumped the Springboks 52-16 in Pretoria.

"We know every match against the Springboks will be tremendously hard and very physical and we've just come through a tough contest with Australia, so the changes are strategic," said Henry.

"We have not had much recovery time and had to travel for 18 hours off the back of a game and we'll be playing at high altitude."

Forwards coach Steve Hansen said they were braced for a big physical test, which was why they had changed the front five.

"We believe this pack is better suited to play against South Africa than the one that played against Australia," he said.

"This group is fresh and we wanted a fresh pack so we can mount a really good challenge on Saturday."

NEW ZEALAND TEAM TO FACE SOUTH AFRICA:

Macdonald; Gear, Muliaina, McAlister, Sivivatu, Carter, Weepu; Tialata, Oliver, Somerville; Rawlinson, Williams, Thorne, McCaw (capt), Masoe. Replacements: Mealamu, Woodcock, Jack, Collins, Cowan, Tuitupou, Toeava.

TRI NATIONS TABLE:

Team P PD PTS
1 New Zealand 4 49 17
2 Australia 5 20 11
3 South Africa 3 -69 1

ALL BLACKS SEAL TRI-NATIONS TITLE:

New Zealand 34 (11)
Tries: Eaton, Jack, McAlister
Cons: Carter 2
Pens: Carter 5

Australia 27 (20)
Tries: Tuqiri 2, Elsom
Cons: Mortlock 3
Pens: Mortlock 2

New Zealand produced an impressive second-half comeback to defeat Australia in Auckland and secure the Tri-Nations title for the seventh time.

The home side trailed 20-11 at the break after tries from wing Lote Tuqiri and flanker Rocky Elsom, although Jason Eaton did cross for New Zealand.

But the All Blacks dominated the second half and Chris Jack and Luke McAlister put them ahead for the first time.

Tuqiri gave the Wallabies hope late on but New Zealand held on.

New Zealand's win maintained their recent dominance of a competition they have now won four times in the last five years.

They have also earned bragging rights over Australia this season thanks to a 3-0 Bledisloe Cup whitewash.

Graham Henry's men may have sealed the Tri-Nations title with two games to play but they were made to work hard by a gritty Wallabies side slowly improving under coach John Connolly.

The visitors started well and after Dan Carter and Stirling Mortlock exchanged two penalties each, Tuqiri crossed on 25 minutes to make the score 13-6.

Eaton crossed for New Zealand from a 25m rolling maul to reduce the deficit to two points before Elsom's controversial try just before the break.

Despite having Tuqiri in yards of space outside him, Elsom went for the line himself and the video referee judged that he just managed to ground the ball, although television replays were inconclusive.

Australia could hardly get out of their half after half-time but New Zealand only had two Carter penalties to show for their early pressure.

The home side finally claimed their second try when Jack finished off a fine move on 63 minutes before centre McAlister's intercept try sealed victory.

Tuqiri crossed for his second with eight minutes to go but the result was never in doubt and the All Blacks were left to celebrate a worthy win.

However, New Zealand management were angry with an apparent spear tackle by Tuqiri on All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw early in the second half.

It led to citing commissioner Willem Venter citing Tuqiri after the game.

The incident did not sour the celebrations and afterwards All Blacks coach Graham Henry hailed his side's performance.

"We are pleased to have wrapped up the Tri-Nations after four games out of six," said All Blacks coach Graham Henry.

"The boys played exceptional football in the second half after being nine points down and they showed heart and character and played very well."

ALL BLACKS/AUSTRALIA NAME TEAMS:

Australia have dropped flanker George Smith for Saturday's must-win Tri Nations clash against New Zealand.
Smith has been replaced by Phil Waugh in one of three changes made by coach John Connolly in the wake of the lacklustre win over South Africa.

Wing Clyde Rathbone and hooker Jeremy Paul also earn recalls.

New Zealand have also made three changes for the game in Auckland, with wing Doug Howlett, lock Jason Eaton and centre Isaia Toeva all starting.

Leon McDonald, Rico Gear and Ali Williams are the players that make way, with Mils Muliaina switching from centre to full-back.

"This move bolsters our options at 15, keeps Leon MacDonald fresh, and makes room for Isaia in the starting line-up," said coach Graham Henry.

Victory over the Wallabies would seal the Tri-Nations title for New Zealand before they head to South Africa.

Australia, who needed a late try from Mat Rogers to beat South Africa on 5 August, narrowly lost 13-9 to the All Blacks last month.

The Wallabies have already lost the Bledisloe Cup after two straight defeats.

"There were some very tough selection decisions, particularly in the back row, but we feel that Phil Waugh deserves his opportunity in the starting team," said Connolly.

"George Smith has been very good for us throughout the season and is one of the world's best in his position, but we are very keen to see what Phil can bring to the mix.

"The wing was also very contentious and there has been nothing between the outside backs throughout the season."





New Zealand:
Muliaina; Howlett, Toeava, Mauger, Rokocoko; Carter, Kelleher; Woodcock, Mealamu, Hayman; Jack, Eaton; Collins, McCaw (capt), Sooialo.
Replacements: Hore, Somerville, Williams, Masoe, Weepu, McAlister, L MacDonald.

Australia:
Latham; Rathbone, Mortlock, Giteau, Tuqiri; Larkham, Gregan (capt); Holmes, Paul, Blake; Sharpe, Vickerman; Elsom, Waugh, Palu.
Replacements: McIsaac, Baxter, Chisholm, Smith, Sheehan, Gerrard, Rogers.