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MELBOURNE - Aaron Mauger has won a reprieve for tomorrow's rugby test against Australia here after Leon MacDonald was ruled out with a groin strain.
Mauger was confirmed at second five-eighth today for the Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, after MacDonald suffered the injury early in yesterday's training session.
It meant a backline reshuffle, with Luke McAlister moving out one place to centre to mark Wallabies captain Striling Mortlock and Mils Muliaina returning to his regular role at fullback.
It will be McAlister's second test start at centre, after the Canada test on June 16.
Mauger was originally named on the bench behind McAlister after starting last weekend's 26-21 win over the Springboks.
Wing Sitiveni Sivivatu, originally ruled out with a broken nose, comes on to the bench.
Coach Graham Henry said MacDonald's injury, a torn muscle, was "reasonably serious" and would sideline him for about four weeks.
"I feel for Leon, he's probably in the best nick of his life," Henry said.
Henry said the other option was to bring in Nick Evans at fullback and keep the midfield intact but the fact Evans hadn't started a test at fullback since 2004 was a factor.
New Zealand
Mils Muliaina, Rico Gear, Luke McAlister, Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko, Daniel Carter, Byron Kelleher, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerry Collins, Troy Flavell, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Ross Filipo, Chris Masoe, Piri Weepu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Nick Evans.
- NZPA
