Boks make three changes

Daniel Carter runs around fitness trainer Graham Lowe during an All Black training session in Durban. Picture / Fotopress

DURBAN - Veteran prop Os du Randt and lineout ace Victor Matfield have overcome injury scares to be named in the Springbok side to play the All Blacks in Sunday's Tri-Nations test at Cape Town.

Matfield has been unable to train since suffering a knee injury during the 22-16 win over the Wallabies in Pretoria last weekend, but has been included to partner Bulls team-mate Bakkies Botha in a formidable second row.

Loosehead prop du Randt bruised a thigh muscle in training on Tuesday, but has been reinstated to the starting line-up after missing back-to-back clashes with Australia because of a quadricep injury.

Du Randt is one of three changes to the starting line-up that kicked off South Africa's campaign in Pretoria. He replaces Gurthro Steenkamp.

In other predictable alterations the snappier service offered by Enrico Januarie sees him replace Fourie du Preez at halfback and Schalk Burger will start on the openside flank.

Burger, who was on the bench in the Mandela Plate Challenge against the Wallabies on July 23 and again at Loftus Versfeld last Sunday, is promoted from the bench.

Joe van Niekerk moves back to No 8 and Jacque Cronje drops to the reserves.

Juan Smith, one of several lineout options at coach Jake White's disposal, completes the loose trio on the blindside.

White was comfortable with the changes.

"Os brings us 55 caps worth of experience that I think we'll need, and Schalk offers a lot more confrontational style at the breakdown," White said.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks completed their training in Durban yesterday with no fresh injury or health concerns.

Halfback Byron Kelleher and loosehead prop Tony Woodcock bounced back from stomach bugs to take a full part in a rigorous session.

Wing Sitiveni Sivivatu was again a spectator as he nurses calf and shoulder injuries, although it is possible he could come into contention for the Bledisloe Cup/Tri-Nations test against the Wallabies in Sydney on August 13.

The All Blacks head to Cape Town today, where they will have a light run at Newlands, the match venue, tomorrow.

* The Wallabies yesterday suffered a huge blow to their Tri-Nations hopes, with first five-eighths Stephen Larkham sidelined for the rest of the season.

He will have shoulder reconstruction surgery and be out of the game for six months.

He injured his right shoulder on the nightmare tour of South Africa.

An MRI scan after arriving home has revealed significant damage to the joint after it was first injured in the 33-20 Mandela Plate loss to the Springboks in Johannesburg 12 days ago.

Larkham played with the problem in the defeat in Pretoria, but the decision was made yesterday for him to have the surgery.

Elton Flatley and Mat Giteau are in line to take the No 10 jersey for the clash with the All Blacks.

Both were included in a 27-man squad named yesterday for the joint Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations test.

Coach Eddie Jones said Larkham's injury was a severe blow to his 81-test playmaker and his team.

"Steve is a resilient character, but this is extremely disappointing for him.

"He was slightly injured in the first test, but trained fully in the week leading up to the second test and got through the game well.

"Further investigation in the form of an MRI when he returned to Australia revealed the damage was worse than we first thought.

"It's a tough decision but the right thing to do to give me the best opportunity to recover in time for next year."

Larkham agreed surgery was the best course of action.

The Wallabies will also be without the injured Wendell Sailor, but have welcomed back fellow winger Clyde Rathbone and hooker Brendan Cannon from injury.

* Springboks v All Blacks, Cape Town, 1am Sunday

Springboks

Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Andre Pretorius, Enrico Januarie, Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (c), Os du Randt

Reserves: Hanyani Shimange, Gurthro Steenkamp, Albert van den Berg, Jacques Cronje, Fourie du Preez, Wayne Julies, Jaco van der Westhuyzen.

All Blacks

Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Tana Umaga (c), Aaron Mauger, Mils Muliaina, Dan Carter, Byron Kelleher, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock

Reserves: Derren Witcombe, Greg Somerville, James Ryan, Marty Holah, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Joe Rokocoko.

- AAP