All Blacks: Franks called into starting XV

21-year-old Ben Franks will make his starting debut for the All Blacks this Sunday in Durban. Photo / Getty Images

One of the more dizzying climbs into All Blacks rugby accelerated today when Owen Franks was asked to anchor the scrum from the outset against South Africa.

Unfeasibly young for an international tighthead prop, 21-year-old Franks was virtually unheard of outside Canterbury when 2009 ticked over.

Now he is charged with adding starch to a New Zealand tight five who lost the battle of the coalface in Bloemfontein over the weekend.

For the Tri-Nations rematch at Durban on Sunday morning, he replaces 36-test prop Neemia Tialata, who suffered a knee strain early in the 28-19 defeat and was replaced by Franks at halftime.

One other change sees Jimmy Cowan return as the starting halfback in place of Brendon Leonard.

Both Leonard and Tialata miss the 22 completely, with John Afoa promoted to the bench as propping cover while Piri Weepu remains the backup halfback.

Bloemfontein was the third successive bench appearance for Franks, with each contribution getting longer. On debut against Italy last month it was 21 minutes, followed by 35 against Australia in Auckland.

All have been impressive outings, marked by his enthusiasm around the park and a straight back at scrum time.

Forwards coach Steve Hansen signposted Franks' elevation when asked to assess the scrum battle not long after the Bloemfontein defeat.

"Our scrum came right in the second half," was the frill-free response.

Motueka-born Franks attended the rugby nursery that is Christchurch Boys High School, represented New Zealand at secondary schools level and joined the famous Linwood club.

It was an identical path to that travelled by brother Ben, also a prop and nearly four years his senior.

Ben's career raced ahead with Canterbury and the Crusaders but can list just just one midweek appearance for his country on the CV, against Munster in Limerick last November.

Owen Franks is so fresh on the scene that the internet archive of New Zealand rugby - rugbymuseum.co.nz - lists him simply as "Franks" in its list of every All Black.

His first start in big-time rugby came as recently as April, when he packed down against the Bulls in Christchurch. His performance that day turned heads, including that of Hansen, who watched him closely over the last six weeks of the Super 14.

He won Junior All Blacks selection but never joined that team in the Pacific, instead called into the national squad as a standby player for the June tests, where he set about boring in on a test berth.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks coaches have resisted making other changes to the forward pack, meaning Rodney So'oialo will play his 58th test, the number reached by former All Blacks No 8 Zinzan Brooke when he retired in 1997.

Brooke will still hold the New Zealand record for most tests in the position, 52, with the more versatile So'oialo climbing to 48 this weekend.

So'oialo will form part of the most experienced loose trio in All Blacks history.

The 148 caps shared between he and flankers Richie McCaw and Jerome Kaino inches ahead of the 145 that he, McCaw and Jerry Collins took into the fateful World Cup quarterfinal against France two years ago.

The back division outside halfback remains the same while there was no surprise to see Cowan reinstated at No 9.

He was impressive in the defeat of Australia at Auckland and coach Graham Henry admitted it was a wrench to rotate him out of last week's test, where Leonard failed to take his opportunity.

* All Blacks team to play South Africa in Durban

Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (C), Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Jason Eaton, Kieran Read, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Cory Jane.

- NZPA