WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Flyhalf Dan Carter has been named in New Zealand’s starting lineup for Saturday’s Tri-Nations test against South Africa in one of four changes to the team which beat Fiji 60-14 a week ago.
Despite the selection of the 80-test veteran, who is poised to overtake England’s Jonny Wilkinson as test rugby’s leading pointscorer, the All Blacks remain below full strength for their first Tri-Nations test of the season.
France-based lock Gerhard Mostert will make his South Africa debut and Patrick Lambie will start a test for the first time at fullback in the Springboks team.
Several frontline New Zealand players are either injured or being rested after long Super 15 campaigns and with only four tests remaining before the opening match of this year’s World Cup, New Zealand has yet to identify its strongest lineup.
Carter came off the bench in the final 20 minutes of New Zealand’s test against Fiji, converting three tries to lift his career points tally to 1,194 points, one point behind Wilkinson’s record.
In other changes from the team which beat Fiji, Sam Whitelock will start at lock in place of Jarrad Hoeata who moves to the bench and Jerome Kaino returns on the blindside flank. Adam Thomson moves from the side of the scrum to No. 8 forcing Liam Messam to the bench.
Cory Jane has recovered from a compound dislocation of the finger and will start on the right wing while Zac Guildford will move to the left wing in place of Sitiveni Sivivatu.
Blockbusting center Sonny Bill Williams has been named on the reserves bench and is likely to make his first test appearance for the All Blacks at home. After a weak finish to the Super 15, Williams needs a series of strong performances to have any chance of being included in New Zealand’s strongest lineup at the World Cup.
Mostert was called into the Springboks team this week after injuries to locks Johann Muller and Flip van der Merwe, and only days after arriving in Paris to take up a two-year contract with club side Stade Francais.
He had trained with the Springboks prior to their departure for Australia and New Zealand, but flew to Paris after failing to make the cut for the traveling squad.
“I was in Paris for five days, settling in, and I had most of my attention there getting to know the guys and then I got the call,” Mostert said. “It was a big surprise to me because I didn’t expect it at all and I got on the first plane to get here.”
Mostert will team with Alistair Hargreaves in an all-new second row pairing, while Danie Roussow will move to the back row and Jean Deysel will make his first test start on the side of the scrum. Ashley Johnson drops to the reserves bench.
Lambie, who played most of the Super 15 rugby season at flyhalf for the Durban-based Sharks, will make his first test start at fullback in place of injured Gio Aplon who, along with van der Merwe, has returned to South Africa.
“At an absolute push we could maybe have patched Gio up to play but this would not be fair on him,” Springboks coach Peter de Villiers said. “There is a World Cup coming up and if he aggravated his problem by playing this weekend, it might rule him out of contention. We must be sensible now. Gio is not the biggest guy and we must look after him.”
Lambie came off the bench in all four of South Africa’s test matches in Europe last November and also replaced Morne Steyn at flyhalf in last weekend’s test against Australia. He and Steyn are expected to alternate at flyhalf and fullback on Saturday with Lambie moving into the flyhalf role on attack.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry said he expected a strong performance from the heavily depleted Springboks despite their 39-20 loss to Australia last weekend.
South Africa left 21 top-line players at home, reportedly to recuperate from injuries, and has since lost three other players to injury, including fullback Gio Aplon.
“They are a proud rugby nation and won’t want a repeat performance so we will have to be ready for that challenge,” Henry said. “But we have had a good buildup this week and have picked a team we know that will be up for that challenge.”
New Zealand will be without center Richard Kahui who has a hamstring injury, prop Tony Woodcock with an injured foot, utility back Isaia Toeava, winger Hosea Gear and fullback Israel Dagg.
The All Blacks and Springboks have played 81 times with New Zealand winning 45 and South Africa 33.
South Africa is due to name its lineup later Thursday.
___
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Janes, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Adam Thomson, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Jarrad Hoeata, Liam Messam, Piri Weepu, Colin Slade, Sonny Bill Williams.
South Africa: Patrick Lambie, Bjorn Basson, Adi Jacobs, Juan de Jongh, Lwazi Mvovo, Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Danie Roussow, Jean Deysel, Deon Stegmann, Alistair Hargreaves, Gerhard Mostert, Werner Kruger, John Smit (captain), Dean Greyling. Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, C.J. van der Linde, Ryan Kankowski, Ashley Johnson, Charl McLeod, Wynand Olivier, Odwa Ndungane.
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/carter-returns-zealand-vs-south-africa-202939476.html
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