The All Blacks have made two changes for Saturday's Tri-Nations re-match against the Springboks, bringing in Test novice Rene Ranger for a surprise start and promoting Piri Weepu.
Halfback Weepu is capable of delivering an even quicker service than the demoted Jimmy Cowan did when the All Blacks hammered the world champions 32-12 in the first Test.
The powerful Ranger gets his first Test start coming in for injured wing Joe Rocokoko with a reputation as the most dangerous attacking back in New Zealand, although prone to basic errors.
But coach Graham Henry, when he named his side Thursday, said he has faith in Ranger as the All Blacks look to sharpen their attack while the Springboks say they will keep faith in their well-tested forward-power and kicking game.
The All Blacks were rewarded with four unanswered tries in the first Test when they stretched the Springboks to breaking point, and captain Richie McCaw said they will again test the stamina of the heavier Springboks.
"Making them make a lot of tackles and move around, there's no doubt it's tougher for them," McCaw said ahead of the showdown in Wellington.
"Certainly, if you can hold the ball for a while and you can move their big fellas around I think you get reward in the end as the game goes on."
But veteran Springboks lock Victor Matfield warned the All Blacks would not have it all their own way in the second Test with the South Africans focused on strangling New Zealand's attack-at-all-cost attitude.
"Hopefully this week we'll be there earlier, better prepared and we'll get in there," he said.
"We all know how we play, we won't go away from that. We're a team that likes to put pressure on the other team, to really strangle them."
The Springbok team, named Tuesday, also has two changes with prop CJ van der Linde in for the injured Jannie de Plessis and Danie Rossouw replaces the suspended Bakkies Botha.
Rossouw, however, is now injured and Andries Bekker is earmarked to start in his place.
Matfield said the first Test hiding was an example of what happens when the top two teams in the world clash and one is not at 100 percent.
"We were probably about 97 (percent) and we know in these games if you're one or two percent off your game, you will get smashed. And that's what happened.
"Hopefully we can be there 100 percent this week and then hopefully it will be a better Test match."
The selection of Ranger raised eyebrows after he botched a certain try by ignoring an overlap outside him in his only previous Test outing off the bench against Wales last month.
But Henry said mistakes are irrelevant if the 23-year-old plays to his full potential.
"He is a very exciting footballer who needs to go out and express himself, so the more touches he's going to get, the better he's going to play," Henry said.
"We want him to go out there and play and express himself, he's going to make the odd mistake which every rugby player is going to do, but if he plays within himself he's not going to be worth having in the side."
New Zealand (15-1)
Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Rene Ranger, Daniel Carter, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Liam Messam, Jimmy Cowan, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg.
South Africa (15-1)
Zane Kirchner, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Oliver, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Ricky Januarie, Pierre Spies, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (captain), Gurthro Steenkamp.
Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, BJ Botha, Andries Bekker, Ryan Kankowski, Ruan Pienaar, Butch James, Gio Aplon.
Copyright 2010 AFP Global Edition
