Rugby: Twin playmakers will keep Boks guessing

The dream team of Stephan Donald and Dan Carter could prove a valuable weapon against the Boks. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks are giving away little about a twin five-eighth rugby combination that has been forced upon them but could yet provide the key to unhinging the Springboks.

Stephen Donald will make his first start at second five-eighth at any level for six years - the last time was against Thames Valley-- when the Waikato pivot lines up outside Daniel Carter in Saturday's Tri-Nations test here.

Ma'a Nonu, who has been the starting second five-eighth in 20 of New Zealand's 22 tests since the World Cup, moves out one spot for his 10th cap as a centre, creating yet another new-look midfield combination in the reign of coach Graham Henry.

In Henry's defence, this latest shuffle have been forced on him by a rash of injuries to midfielders. Donald and Nonu replace Luke McAlister (fractured cheek) and Conrad Smith (hamstring) respectively, in the only changes from the starting side who pipped Australia 19-18 in Sydney on August 22.

Kieran Read has been cleared to start at No 8 despite struggling recently with a knee complaint.

It is the playmaking duo who drew all the attention today, with Henry asked to explain how the pair will combine and why he didn't name Donald in his more familiar No 10 jersey.

There had been mounting speculation that Carter would be named to start at second five-eighth, having played his early test career in that position.

Henry was coy on how the pair would interact, clearly keen to keep the Springboks guessing ahead of a test where the All Blacks need four tries for a bonus point win to boost their slim Tri-Nations title chances.

"We'll just have to see how the plot works out on the day. There's no point giving you the plot now because it will be boring on Saturday," Henry said.

"Hopefully it will come together well."

It seems likely that Carter will stand at first five-eighth for most set pieces but during phase play he and Donald will interchange at first receiver.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith said they would combine "in a less traditional way than we've seen before", although Donald could perform as a more hard-nosed No 12 if required.

"He's physical, he hits the line pretty hard. I like them both as five-eighths because one's a left footer (Carter), one's a right footer so that gives us some good options there. And they can both play the playmaking role."

Donald was a mixture of nerves and excitement about playing a first test on his home ground, although in a role he had never envisaged.

"I don't think in my wildest dreams I would have partnered Ma'a Nonu in the midfield for the All Blacks. But I am and I am rapt about it," he said.

"We have played a lot of rugby with me at 10 and him at 12 so I know his voice and I know what he wants to do."

Donald has had some late cameos for the Chiefs at second five-eighth in Super rugby but reckons it wasn't since his first year out of school that he last started there, playing for Counties-Manukau against Thames Valley in the second division on a wet afternoon at Pukekohe.

Henry said the key to the Carter-Donald show clicking would be communication.

They interchanged successfully during the last half hour of the Sydney test when Donald came off the bench but when they started against Australia at Hong Kong last year - in opposite roles - it "wasn't a howling success", Henry conceded.

"I think we've learned from that and they've learned from that, that they both need to talk a lot," he said.

"Whoever is playing at 10 is inclined to dominate the proceedings and I think both are very good navigators of the team and both have got a lot to offer so we've just got to encourage them both to talk."

Donald was replaced by Nonu soon after halftime at Hong Kong, a change Henry will be loathe to make on Saturday as he has limited backup resources.

Isaia Toeava is the midfield cover but Henry admitted the Aucklander still isn't 100 per cent recovered from a gluteal muscle injury which had impacted on his speed. However, he has improved since taking a course of anti-inflammatories.

Another notable selection on the reserve bench is that of in-form Otago flanker Adam Thomson, who returns to the All Blacks after breaking his hand in the first test of the year against France.

He replaces lock Jason Eaton, leaving blindside flanker Jerome Kaino as the lock backup in case of injury to specialist starters Brad Thorn or Isaac Ross.

- NZPA