Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac
New Zealand coach Graham Henry has recalled flyhalf Dan Carter for the All Blacks' first Tri-Nations clash against an injury-ravaged South Africa in Wellington on Saturday.
Carter, rested for the warmup test against Fiji last week, replaces Colin Slade in one of four changes to the lineup named on Thursday.
Carter has only to score two points against the Springboks to surpass England's Jonny Wilkinson (1,195) as the highest points scorer in tests.
Cory Jane comes into the right wing after recovering from a finger injury, shifting Zac Guildford to the left wing, while lock Sam Whitelock returns to the second row in place of Jarrad Hoeata, who debuted in the All Blacks' 60-14 demolition of Fiji.
Jerome Kaino returns to blindside flanker, demoting Liam Messam to the bench, with loose forward Adam Thomson shifted to number eight.
Explosive inside centre Sonny Bill Williams is poised to make his test debut for the Tri-Nations champions on home soil after replacing Ben Smith on the bench.
Coach Henry said the Springboks would be keen to hit back after their 39-20 loss to Australia in the Tri-Nations opener in Sydney last week and would come out firing.
"They are a proud rugby nation and won't want a repeat performance so we will have to be ready for that challenge," Henry said in a media release.
"But we have had a good build-up this week and have picked a team we know that will be up for that challenge."
New Zealand won all of their Tri-Nations matches last year to snatch the title from world champions South Africa who spluttered to five losses from six matches.
The Tri-Nations has been reduced to six matches this year from the usual nine due to the World Cup starting in September.
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