Locked in: Tom Donnelly set for All Blacks debut

New Zealand has made five changes to its starting lineup for Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby test against Australia, hoping to end a slump which includes four losses in eight tests this season.

Lock Tom Donnelly, 27, will make his test debut in place of Isaac Ross, who started in all eight tests this year, as the All Blacks attempt to repair chronic lineout problems which have contributed to their steady loss of form.

Ross made his debut against France this season and was immediately handed the responsibility of calling lineout throws, but has now forfeited his place as the All Blacks address one of the most serious weaknesses of their game.

Adam Thomson was named Wednesday on the blindside flank in place of Jerome Kaino and Neemia Tialata, dropped earlier this season as the All Blacks tackled scrum deficiencies, returns in place of rookie Owen Franks.

Among the backs, fullback Cory Jane has been named on the right wing in place of the injured Sitiveni Sivivatu and Isaia Toeava will start at center, where he finished in last week's 32-29 loss to South Africa. The Springboks sealed the Tri-Nations title with that win, leaving New Zealand needing to beat Australia in the last match to avoid finishing last in the tournament.

Joe Rokocoko, who has held his starting place in spite of some poor performances this season, switches from the right to the left wing and Ma'a Nonu returns to inside center after starting at outside center in last weekend's test at Hamilton.

The changes reflect the desperation of the All Blacks coaching staff to stop a form slump which has seen New Zealand surrender the Tri-Nations title it has held for the last four years.

The All Blacks won only one of the first 12 lineouts in last Saturday's test in an ineffective lineout display in which jumpers were often left without lifters and failed to compete for their own ball.

Ross had been hailed as the find of the season but has made little impact in lineouts and has now paid the price for the communication problems that afflicted the lineout in Hamilton.

Brad Thorn retains his place, and will lock the All Blacks' scrum with Otago's Donnelly, though he brings limited lineout skills from his previous career in rugby league.

Toeava appeared to give the All Blacks' backline more penetration after going on in the second half against the Springboks last week, when New Zealand recognized the experiment of using first five-eighths Stephen Donald in midfield had failed.

He had the advantage of playing against a rapidly tiring Springboks team and his selection is almost always risky because of his tendency to make handling errors.

New Zealand has twice beaten Australia in Tri-Nations matches this season, retaining the Bledisloe Cup, but needs to win in Wellington to avoid the humiliation of finishing last in the three-nation tournament.

Australia on Tuesday named a team unchanged from the one which beat the Springboks 21-6 in Sydney two weeks ago, South Africa's only loss in a competition they have won for the first time since 2004.

Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and winger Lachie Turner passed fitness tests before being confirmed in the run-on side.

Squads:

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Isaia Toeava, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Adam Thomson, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, John Afoa, Jason Eaton, Rodney So'oialo, Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald, Hosea Gear

Australia: James O'Connor, Lachie Turner, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Will Genia; George Smith (captain), David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, Mark Chisholm, James Horwill, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Stephen Moore, Pek Cowan, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Peter Hynes.

-AP