All Blacks coach Graham Henry says the players that have been dropped from this week's line-up to face the Wallabies in Wellington this Saturday are not to blame for last weekend's debilitating loss to the Springboks in Hamilton.

Henry has made five changes with Prop Owen Franks, lock Isaac Ross, flank Jerome Kaino and Stephen Donald all being omitted from the starting line-up while Sitiveni Sivivatu has been rule out due to injury.

However Henry stressed that none of the axed players are to blame for last weekend's defeat.

"There are no scapegoats from last weekend," Henry told NZPA.

"Owen Franks probably got a shock when he was selected for the test team. He's played a lot of rugby and he's probably gone over the top a wee bit.

"He just needs a bit of space and it's the same with Isaac, he's played every test this year and we just feel he needs a wee bit of space for a wee while.

"It's nothing to do with the lineout. We just think he's played a lot of football, he's probably mentally been stretched, continually every week."

Henry also admitted that Joe Rokocoko had been below his best and he hinted that the 59-Test speedster's experience and perhaps even Sivivatu's injury counted in his favour to hang onto his black jersey.

"He's been an outstanding footballer at this level in the past and he's doing better this season than he did when he started," Henry said .

"He played pretty well for Auckland at provincial level. We're just hoping he finds the right button."

The coach also made no excuses for the failed Daniel Carter- Donald midfield combination and he suggested that it may never happen again.

"We haven't done so this time so that's a wee bit of an indication," he said.