News

So'oialo to lead from the flank

July 01 2008

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has opted not to start the Tri-Nations with a recognised openside flanker, naming new captain Rodney So'oialo at seven for the opening Test against South Africa on Saturday.

So'oialo and Adam Thomson will operate as right and left whilst Jerome Kaino will pack down at number eight.

Fears that Ali Williams would miss the game through injury amounted to nothing as the Crusaders lock takes his place alongside team-mate Brad Thorn.

Although should, for some reason, Williams have any further injury problems before kick-off, assistant coach Steve Hansen said two-Test lock Anthony Boric was ready to be slotted alongside Brad Thorn.

"I wouldn't say he's [Williams] 100 per cent but he's working his way towards that," said Hansen.

"He's pretty confident that he's going to be right.

"He'll train for a limited amount of time on Wednesday and we'll build on that on Thursday.

"Any Test match, when you've a guy who's your chief line-out forward and he's played 50 Test matches, it's important to have him."

Conrad Smith comes back in at outside centre, with Richard Kahui dropping out of the squad altogether, joining Hurricanes team-mate Ma'a Nonu.

Andy Ellis and Dan Carter form the half-back pairing, and Jimmy Cowan takes his place on the bench despite a hearing with the NZRU board.

Henry believes the game will be one of the toughest this group of players will ever have played in.

"I think it's a massive challenge, maybe the biggest challenge this group of people have faced in the five years that we've been together," said Henry.

"It'll maybe bring the best out of us and we're hoping to give them [South Africa] a decent sort of game. I don't think you're going to get a bigger Test match for the All Blacks."

New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis; 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Rodney So'oialo (captain), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 TBA, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Leon MacDonald.

Date: Saturday 5 July, 2008

Kick-off: 19:35 (08:35 BST)

Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

Touch judges: Matt Goddard, James Leckie (Australia)

Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (IRB)