All Blacks: Henry wrenched over halfback call

All Blacks halfback Brendon Leonard will play his first test in South Africa on Sunday. Photo / Getty Images

CENTURION - Dropping halfback Jimmy Cowan was among the harder decisions coach Graham Henry has made but he is hopeful his slicker-looking All Blacks backline can outgun South Africa in Bloemfontein.

Henry today made two changes for the Tri-Nations encounter on Sunday morning (NZT), introducing sniping Waikato halfback Brendon Leonard for Cowan and gambling that Joe Rokocoko can turn around his form on the right wing in place of Cory Jane.

Both dropped players are unlucky after quality outings during the 22-16 defeat of Australia in Auckland last weekend.

Henry said the halfback decision was particularly vexing.

With Piri Weepu seemingly locked in as a permanent reserve, there are two quality options available to start in the No 9 jersey.

"Huge decision, we thought about it pretty seriously. It was the most difficult decision of the test team," Henry said.

"I thought (Cowan) played one of his better test matches for the All Blacks, maybe his best. I thought he played very maturely.

"We see Piri as the guy who comes on and changes the game for us so if we didn't play Brendon, he was just going to fade away really."

The ultra-competitive Cowan was disappointed with his omission, something Henry said was understandable but the Southlander had shown admirable acceptance.

The coach said the rock-hard surface at Vodacom Park may suit Leonard, who "is a quick player, he's pretty sharp on the break".

Leonard links with Waikato and Chiefs first five-eighth Stephen Donald for the first time at test level.

It is Leonard's 11th test and his first on South African soil while Donald's only taste of a test in the republic was his two minutes off the bench in last year's 19-0 defeat of the Springboks at Cape Town.

The switch on the right wing was less stressful, Henry said, with Rokocoko's experience of South African conditions seeing him hold sway over Jane.

"He (Rokocoko) knows the score, he knows what's required and the alternatives in that position have not had that experience."

There are no changes to the pack, where assistant coach Steve Hansen was looking for improvement from experienced loose forwards Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo.

Both returned from injury recuperation that stretched back nearly months during last Saturday's test.

"I don't think they are at their best, particularly Richie hasn't played a lot of rugby this season," Hansen said.

"They will both be better for the game and they both still played very well last week. Now they have had a test match under their belt we are expecting big performances from the both of them."

Hansen said the value of McCaw and So'oialo's experience was obvious in the defeat of the Wallabies and critics of New Zealand's performances against France and Italy should take note.

Winning at home was a necessity to kick-start their campaign and now the All Blacks had a chance to set themselves up for a tilt at a 10th Tri-Nations crown.

"You don't want to lose any Tri-Nations test match at home. If you look at the history of the Tri-Nations, it has usually been won by the team that can win away from home."

The team underwent their first full-tilt training of the week this morning, with reserve hooker Keven Mealamu watching on during some sections to nurse his calf strain.

He is expected to be fit for the test.

Springboks
Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Ruan Pieenar, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussouw, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, John Smit (captain), Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.

Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Ryan Kankowski, Ricky Januarie, Morne Steyn, Wynand Olivier.

All Blacks
Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Jason Eaton, Kieran Read, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Cory Jane.

- NZPA