Five changes to Boks for next Test

SUN CITY, South Africa - Springboks rugby coach Jake White has made five changes to his team to face the All Blacks on Sunday (NZ time), recalling veteran loose forward AJ Venter, axing fullback Percy Montgomery and promoting Andre Pretorius to first five-eighth.

White recalled Venter for his 24th test, replacing Jacques Cronje in the No 8 jersey for the Tri-Nations test in Rustenberg as the Springboks look to end a five-match losing streak.

In other changes from the All Blacks' 45-26 victory in Pretoria, Pretorius replaces Butch James in the No 10 jersey; centre Wynand Olivier comes off the bench with Jaque Fourie moving out to replace Montgomery at fullback; Bulls flanker Pedrie Wannenburg replaces Solly Tyibilika on the blindside flank and prop BJ Botha replaces CJ van der Linde who has a neck injury.

The inclusion of Pretorius and the shifting of Fourie to fullback suggests a more open, running game after the Springboks kicked plenty of possession away last weekend.

White said Montgomery had a stomach bug this week, which contributed to his decision to omit the veteran fullback.

Venter, who last played for the Springboks against England in Twickenham in 2004, returns from captaining the Sharks in the Currie Cup and is expected to bring some experience to a loose forward trio missing injured pair Schalk Burger and Joe van Niekerk.

Wing Breyton Paulse and prop Lawrence Sephaka have been recalled to the bench.

White gave his team the day off training to clear their heads yesterday, with some of them hitting the golf course.

"We had a nice stern talk last night in terms of what their expectations are and we expect them to get it right," he said.

South Africa:

Jaque Fourie, Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Andre Pretorius, Fourie du Preez, AJ Venter, Pierre Spies, Pedrie Wannenburg, Victor Matfield, Johann Muller, BJ Botha, John Smit (captain), Os du Randt.

Reserves:

Chilliboy Ralepelle, Lawrence Sephaka, Albert van den Berg, Jacques Cronje, Ruan Pienaar, Butch James, Breyton Paulse.

- NZPA