Wallaby boss rings changes

AUSTRALIA have made four changes for Saturday’s Tri Nations opener against South Africa in Pretoria, with Matt Dunning, John Roe, Morgan Turinui and Daniel Vickerman coming into the starting line-up.

Wallaby boss rings changes

Dunning will replace Al Baxter at tighthead prop for his second start in the position this season, while at lock, Mark Chisholm makes way for the more experienced Vickerman, who came off the bench in the second half against the Springboks last week.

At blindside flanker, Roe has been rewarded for his consistency and comes into the starting line-up at the expense of Rocky Elsom, while at outside centre Morgan Turinui replaces Stirling Mortlock.

The Springboks beat Australia 33-20 last week to retain the Nelson Mandela Challenge title.

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones says the entire 22 will have a role to play on Saturday.

"Performing well in Pretoria is about a complete squad effort and we've selected the team on that basis," said Jones.

"At tighthead prop Matt Dunning has been finishing the games and Al has been starting. We're just looking to get a bit more punch in our play early and let Matty have that opportunity, with Al to finish the game off for us.

"In the second row, Mark Chisholm has done an extremely good job, but Dan showed when he came on in the second half he's got the experience and ability to make a difference.

"Like Mark Chisholm, Rocky has done very well, but he's feeling the effects of a tough campaign and we just need some fresh legs in the back row. John Roe is a very good player, who still gives us lineout jumping but also plenty of ball carry."

In the backs, the only change from the last test sees Turinui selected ahead of Mortlock for his third start this season, with Mortlock expected to have a role to play off the bench.

"While Stirling has done a great job for us, we've decided to start with Morgan and believe his thrust early in the game will be important."

For his part, South Africa coach Jake White has made three changes and one positional switch to his line-up, expecting the Wallabies to come back in force after last weekend's loss in Johannesburg.

White traded the promising Ricky Januarie with the more experienced Fourie du Preez at scrum-half, while the powerful Jacques Cronje returns as No 8, pushing Joe van Niekerk to his more familiar spot on the left flank.

Other changes see tighthead prop CJ 'Toks' van der Linde replace Eddie Andrews in the front row.

White said he expected the Wallabies to bounce back for Saturday's clash at Loftus stadium in Pretoria after their defeat last weekend.

"This is the start of a new competition and I know the Aussies will be out to prove that they can play much better than last week," White said.

"They are an experienced side with a strong belief and will definitely bounce back, so we will have to show the same commitment and composure," White said.

Elsewhere, the All Blacks will face a much sterner test of their ability against Australia and South Africa in the Tri Nations than they experienced against the British and Irish Lions, New Zealand coach Graham Henry said last night.

The All Blacks are preparing for their first Tri Nations match against the Springboks in Cape Town on August 6 before facing the Wallabies in Sydney on August 13.

"Then we are going to find out where the deficiencies are and you have got something to coach," Henry said.

"We had deficiencies last year and we got third in this championship last."

He said the All Blacks were making pleasing progress but the Tri Nations is expected to show some "rough edges" to be worked on.

Henry described the annual Tri Nations as an international yardstick for the sport, featuring the best three teams in the world.

The All Blacks completed a lopsided 3-0 whitewash of the Lions earlier this month but Henry said his team was not reading too much into the series, which would be a good build-up for the Tri Nations.

"I don't think there is any inflated opinion of our own ability," he said after the All Blacks' first training run since the Lions series.

New Zealand supporters needed to acknowledge other countries could play good rugby and the All Blacks were not always winners, he said, pointing out they had not won the World Cup since 1987.

"We have not been the best team in 20 years and that is what I am trying to say.

"We want the All Blacks to play well in every test and hopefully they will do that. Sometimes they will get beaten because the other guys are better."

The All Blacks will leave for South Africa tomorrow without any injury problems.

Standoff Daniel Carter, inside centre Aaron Mauger, flanker Richie McCaw and full-back Leon MacDonald have all recovered from injuries that kept them out of the third Lions test.

Tri Nation series, Loftus Versfeld, Saturday, live on Sky Sports 2 from 1.30pm.

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