Henry tinkers with his pack

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has made three changes to his starting XV to face the Wallabies in the Vodacom Tri-Nations Test in Sydney on Saturday as his team look to retain the trophy for 2004.

All the changes have been made up front, with flanker Jono Gibbes returning from the back injury that ruled him out of the narrow victory over South Africa, and prop Carl Hayman regaining the tighthead role ahead of Greg Somerville.

The return of Gibbes sees hard-hitting Hurricanes flanker Jerry Collins drop out of the match-day 22 entirely, while Somerville drops back down to the bench.

The Crusaders prop was brought into the starting XV against the Boks two weeks ago to counter massive loosehead prop Os du Randt, but against the Wallabies the taller Hayman is once again preferred to Somerville.

The final change comes in the second row with Blues lock Ali Williams replacing Simon Maling in the starting XV, while the latter has been bracketed on the bench with loose forward Mose Tuiali'i as All Blacks management monitor the fitness of lock Chris Jack.

For Williams it is a remarkable return after he was unable to break into the squad at the beginning of the international season. But after in-form Chiefs lock Keith Robinson picked up an injury ahead of the opening Tri-Nations fixture against the Wallabies, Williams was brought onto the bench.

And with strong performances against both the Wallabies and the Boks, Williams has been rewarded by Henry with a starting role.

Meanwhile, Henry has recalled Crusaders veterans first five-eighth Andrew Mehrtens who ousts utility back Nick Evans from the bench, while Craig Newby will cover the lock positions if Jack is ruled out.  

A victory for the All Blacks will wrap up the 2004 series with neither the Wallabies nor the Boks able to win regardless of the results of the final two matches, but if the Australians knock over their trans-Tasman rivals the Tri-Nations is still very much alive.

All Blacks: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Tana Umaga (captain), 12 Daniel Carter, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Jono Gibbes, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Kees Meeuws.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Simon Maling/Mose Tuiali'i, 19 Craig Newby, 20 Byron Kelleher, 21 Andrew Mehrtens, 22 Sam Tuitupou.

Kick-off: 18.00 local time (10.00 GMT)