Tri-Nations: Springboks look to ratify No.1 ranking against New Zealand

Thu, Jul 3 11:05 AM

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) _ Ten players who started last year's Rugby World Cup final against England were named Thursday in South Africa's lineup for the opening Tri-Nations test against New Zealand. The heavy presence of World Cup winners serves to underline South Africa's determination to ratify its world champion status, and No.

1 world ranking, in its first confrontation with the All Blacks since last year's Tri-Nations series. South Africa and New Zealand did not meet at the World Cup and the Springboks believe they cannot count themselves the No.

1 team in world rugby until they prove their superiority over the All Blacks. "If anyone comes to New Zealand and thinks it's going to be easy, he is fooling himself," South Africa coach Peter De Villiers said.

"The game was invented in England, but it was perfected in New Zealand and the passion that flows from this country [is intense]. "We didn't play New Zealand in the world cup so we have to beat them to call ourselves proper world champions.

That will be a great motivation for them," he said. South Africa has not beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand since 1998 and the Kiwis have since gone on to compile a world-record winning streak at home of 29 matches.

That streak comes under it's greatest pressure Saturday from a stable and well-prepared Springbok team. All Blacks coach Graham Henry calls the match one of the greatest challenges of his international coaching career.

"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," Henry said. "It'll maybe bring the best out of us and we're hoping to give them a decent sort of game .

I don't think you're going to get a bigger test match for the All Blacks." New Zealand is disadvantaged by the loss to injury of its captain Richie McCaw.

In McCaw's absence, regular No.8 Rodney So'oialo is forced to cope both with the captaincy and unfamiliar role on the openside of the scrum.

His backrow combination with Jerome Kaino and Adam Thomson, who have only six tests between them, is a raw and untested one. South Africa also made a surprise loose forward selection in naming its team for the match, choosing Joe van Niekerk at No.

8 ahead of Pierre Spies or Ryan Kankowski. De Villiers has also opted to pair Adrian Jacobs in midfield with his Stormers teammate Jean de Villiers.

One of the All Blacks' small advantages, on top of their formidable home record, may be their superior adaptation to the Experimental Law Variations which will be used in the match. Springboks captain John Smit, who faces a personal challenge to adapt to the new rules on Saturday, has questioned their value.

"They haven't tried to reinvent the wheel for some time and I thought rugby was pretty good beforehand," he said. "Ive come from Europe where the old rules are going well and there you can't get any seat in any stadium.

___ Lineups: New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Rudi Wulf, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Jerome Kaino, Rodney So'oialo (captain), Adam Thomson, Ali Willliams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Anthony Boric, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Leon MacDonald South Africa: Conrad Jantjes, Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Ricky Januarie, Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (captain), Gurthro Steenkamp.

Reserves: Bismarck du Plessis, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Luke Watson, Bolla Conradie, Francois Steyn, Percy Montgomery.

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