Friday, August 25 2006 15:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Pretoria: South Africa will be looking to end a four-match losing streak when they clash with Tri-Nations champions New Zealand at a sold-out Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday (26 Aug, 2006).

The Springboks last won in June against Scotland and have since suffers defeats to France at home and to Australia (twice) and New Zealand away from home but will be hoping the fanatical support of the Pretoria crowd will help them to a first win against their southern hemisphere opposition this weekend.

New Zealand, thanks to four wins, has already won the Tri-Nations title.

While Springbok coach Jake White is of the opinion his Boks can turn their international season around on home soil, their record against the visitors at Loftus Versfeld is far from impressive, three defeats since 1996.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has again rung the changes but has retained his big guns, Dan Carter and captain Richie McCaw.

Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Mils Muliaina and Piri Weepu get call-ups along with winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, who gets his first run of the international season, and experienced hooker Anton Oliver.

While the visitors are likely to use their powerful front row to gain the ascendancy and look to Carter and the backs to ask questions of the Boks, the home side will again rely on the experience of Victor Matfield in the lineout and the kicking boot of Percy Montgomery to get them on the front foot.

The home side at least look more accomplished than at any other stage this season. Jean de Villiers is back at inside centre, while in Butch James they have a fly half who should keep the All Blacks guessing throughout.

Whether he has it in him to keep Carter at bay though is another matter. He will, however, feel more at ease with the creative De Villiers on his outside, and he's almost certain to put in a number of big tackles, which could just unsettle the New Zealanders.

The Boks will surely miss the ball carrying strengths of Juan Smith who is on Wednesday (23 Aug, 2006) ruled out of the clash because of injury.

"He was one of the stars in Australasian and his presence will be sorely missed," says White.

"We'll need to think hard about his replacement," the coach adds.

Joe van Niekerk will now wear the Bok number seven jersey, with Bulls flanker Pierre Spies moving on to the bench.

The change means there are now seven players in the 22-man squad who'll be playing on their home turf.

Hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, the SA U-21 captain, is almost certain to earn his first Test cap.

So too Sharks tighthead prop BJ Botha, who was South Africa's best No 3 during the Super 14.

Teams:

South Africa Percy Montgomery; Akona Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Butch James, Fourie du Preez; Jacques Cronje, Joe van Niekerk, Solly Tyibilika, Victor Matfield, Johann Muller, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (capt), Os du Randt Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, BJ Botha, Albert van den Berg, Ruan Pienaar, Wynand Olivier, Andre Pretorius

New Zealand Leon MacDonald; Rico Gear, Mils Muliaina, Luke McAlister, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Piri Weepu; Chris Masoe, Richie McCaw (capt), Reuben Thorne; Ali Williams, Greg Rawlinson, Greg Somerville, Anton Oliver, Neemia Tialata

Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Chris Jack, Jerry Collins, Jimmy Cowan, Sam Tuitupou, Isaia Toeava