New Zealand have dropped scrum-half Justin Marshall for Sunday's World Cup semi-final against France at Twickenham. The experienced Marshall makes way for 22year-old Otago scrum-half Byron Kelleher, who makes just his second Test match start.
Canterbury star Marshall is demoted to replacement duty and his demise is the solitary change to an All Black side that was a comfortable quarter-final winner over Scotland last weekend.
Coach John Hart will leave a final decision on out-half Andrew Mehrtens's fitness until as late as possible, although the All Black kingpin is expected to play.
Mehrtens suffered a knee injury during the Scotland game, and is receiving daily treatment in an attempt to make the French show down. A scan on Mehrtens's left knee revealed no cartilage or ligament damage, but fluid and bruising was discovered. Otago's Tony Brown has been placed on standby. Hart said that Kelleher had displaced Marshall entirely on merit. "After watching the tape of the French match, I made an assessment and decided Byron has something Justin doesn't have. I don't want to talk about specifics but we'll see what they are on Sunday."
Hart however warned that France provide the stiffest opposition New Zealand have faced so far.
French coach Jean Claude Skrela has gambled on the fitness of Emile N'tamack as he tries to find a formula to knock New Zealand out of the World Cup. N'tamack will take his place at inside centre, even though he has not fully recovered from a blood clot which formed in his knee during the early part of the week.
Skrela has made just one change from the team which recorded a 4726 quarter-final triumph over Argentina in Dublin last weekend, with lock Fabien Pelous - available again after suspension - recalled in place of Olivier Brouzet, who drops to the replacements' bench.
Springboks coach Nick Mallett has predictably named an unchanged team for Saturday's World Cup semi-final against Australia at Twickenham.
Mallett keeps faith with the 15 players - and seven replacements - who sent England packing from the tournament with a stunning 4421 victory in Paris.
