We don’t buy it, Mr Henry

“Thouth Afwica ith a 10-out-of-10 wugby-pwaying countwy tho we know we are in for a weally tough Test. Goth, I’m in thuch awe of them; they’th the world championths.”

If New Zealand coach Graham Henry thinks we’re buying that crock of crap, best he thinks again.

If there is anyone on the planet right now that the All Blacks want to beat, it’s the Springboks. In addition the New Zealand public are less than thrilled at having Uncle Graham still at the helm. The pressure on him to win this one is enormous.

Should he fail to deliver the Tri-Nations, his stock, already depleted, will be cleared off the board. He knows it and we know it. He also knows we know it. We know that he knows that we know he knows we know it.

Henry has gone for experience with a side showing four changes to the team that routed England. In comes Tony Woodcock at prop along with Jerome Kaino at eighth man. The latter replaces injured skipper Richie McCaw, which is a big blow to the Kiwis.

In the back line, centre Conrad Smith and fullback Mils Muliaina come in for Richard Kahui and Leon McDonald. The captain will be Rodney So’oialo, who has switched to openside flanker.

There is no such thing as a weak All Black side. There are varying degrees of strength but never a starting 15 that you would write off with any confidence.

These buggers are going to be as mean as rattlesnakes as they look to start rebuilding their image as the world’s top-ranked team.

You underestimate them at your peril.

The full side
New Zealand: 15-Mils Muliaina, 14-Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13-Conrad Smith, 12-Ma’a Nonu, 11-Rudi Wulf, 10-Dan Carter, 9-Andy Ellis, 8-Jerome Kaino, 7-Rodney So’oialo (captain), 6-Adam Thomson, 5-Ali Williams, 4-Brad Thorn, 3-Greg Somerville, 2-Andrew Hore, 1-Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16-Keven Mealamu, 17-Neemia Tialata, 18-Anthony Boric, 19-Sione Lauaki, 20-Jimmy Cowan, 21-Stephen Donald, 22-Leon MacDonald