All Blacks advance party touch down

The majority of the All Blacks squad have arrived in South Africa as the newly-crowned Tri-Nations rugby champions chase their first win in the republic in three years.

Nineteen players, including captain Richie McCaw, along with assistant coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, touched down in Johannesburg early today (NZ time).

The remaining 11 All Blacks and head coach Graham Henry will join their teammates 24 hours later at their hotel near Pretoria.

The advance party departed Auckland at first light yesterday then had a 14-hour direct flight from Sydney to Johannesburg after their 34-27 win over the Wallabies clinched the Tri-Nations title with two matches to spare.

Other All Blacks who were straight on the plane after playing on Saturday included Jerry Collins, Tony Woodcock, Isaia Toeava, Luke McAlister and Piri Weepu.

Henry said yesterday there would be changes for Saturday's test against the Springboks in Pretoria.

Most interest will surround whether flanker McCaw is given a rest after his battering at the hands of the Wallabies, including a spear tackle from Lote Tuqiri which earned the Wallabies wing a 10-week ban from a Sanzar judicial panel yesterday.

There was no comment today from the All Blacks on Tuqiri's suspension.

The All Blacks won 52-16 on their last visit to Pretoria in 2003 but have lost their two tests since in South Africa, 26-40 in Johannesburg in 2004 and 16-22 in Cape Town last year.

- NZPA