All Blacks coach Graham Henry has made two changes to his team to face the Springboks in their second Tri-Nations meeting in Durban on Saturday, with Jimmy Cowan and 21-year-old Owen Franks returning to the starting line-up.

The starting XV features two changes from the team, which started the first Test against South Africa last weekend, with 2009 All Blacks debutant Franks coming in for tighthead prop Neemia Tialata who sprained his right knee on the weekend, and Cowan replacing Brendon Leonard at scrumhalf. John Afoa comes onto the bench.

Henry said the All Blacks were taking positives out of last weekend’s 19-28 loss to South Africa: "I said that last week’s Test in Bloemfontein would be a massive challenge and this weekend’s Test in Durban is no different. But this team has a lot of character and resolve and we are approaching it in a positive frame of mind."

Four All Blacks – Mils Muliaina, Ma’a Nonu, Brad Thorn and Isaac Ross – will be starting in their sixth consecutive Test in 2009 with Nonu starting in his 15th successive Test. Muliaina is playing his 74th Test and this weekend joins former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga as the fourth most-capped All Black in history.

This weekend’s game will be the All Blacks 450th Test match and the 77th Test between the two great rivals, which started way back in 1921. The All Blacks have played South Africa seven times in Durban, with the most recent Test match, the 26 – 21 win to the All Blacks in 2007.

New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Josevata Rokocoko, 13 Conrad Smith, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10.Stephen Donald, 9. Jimmy Cowan, 8. Rodney So’oialo, 7. Richie McCaw (captain), 6.Jerome Kaino, 5. Isaac Ross, 4. Brad Thorn, 3.Owen Franks, 2.Andrew Hore, 1. Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16. Keven Mealamu, 17. John Afoa, 18. Jason Eaton , 19. Kieran Read, 20. Piri Weepu, 21. Luke McAlister, 22. Cory Jane,

Date: Saturday, August 1
Venue: Absa Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Tim Hayes (Wales)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

365

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