Brown bags Mehrts' number

By WYNNE GRAY

Tony Brown will be the All Black first five-eighths for this weekend's opening Tri-Nations rugby clash against the Springboks in Cape Town, leaving Andrew Mehrtens on the bench.

Brown's retention in the team means Mehrtens, who was nursing a bruised thigh during the French match, may have to wait to play his 50th test.

In other key selection battles, Jeff Wilson replaces Leon MacDonald at fullback, Doug Howlett reclaims his right-wing spot and Justin Marshall holds off Byron Kelleher at halfback.

Coach Wayne Smith confirmed Mehrtens was fit for selection in the starting line-up at Newlands on Sunday (NZ time) but will stay on the reserve bench.

He will join his Canterbury teammate MacDonald, who had started in all three tests so far this year, but now makes way for Wilson.

Smith and his assistant, Tony Gilbert, and third selector Peter Thorburn also opted for Ron Cribb at No 8 ahead of promising Wellington loose forward Jerry Collins.

The retention of Marshall and Cribb is a big vote of confidence in the pair, who took the blame for some slow delivery to the backline in the 37-12 win over France three weeks ago.

The back three of Wilson, Howlett and Jonah Lomu, all strong finishers, will test the South African defence, although injured fullback Christian Cullen is yet to return.

In the forwards, Taine Randell retains his place on the openside flank, and Troy Flavell again partners Norm Maxwell at lock.

Collins, midfield backs Mark Ranby and Keith Lowen and prop Gordon Slater have missed the test 22.

Mehrtens and Kelleher both suffered injuries at training yesterday, but the selectors said they were minor injuries and played no part in team selection.

Springbok coach Harry Viljoen has lost flanker Corne Krige to injury, but still has a tried loose forward trio of the recalled Andre Vos, Andre Venter and captain Bobby Skinstad.