Rene Ranger shocked by All Blacks call

Injury to Joe Rokocoko has provided the chance for Ranger, a backline breaker who was started at centre by Blues coach Pat Lam during the Super 14, and whose rugby pedigree was first noticed with his blockbusting running on the wing for the Cambridge Blues from Kauriland.

He was given the nod against the Springboks ahead of Zac Guildford and Hosea Gear.

"I never thought I'd be an All Black this year," he admitted. "I'm still buzzing. It's a bit of a shock to get your first start against South Africa, but it's a challenge, I'm excited, happy, and can't wait to get out there."

Ranger came on for 20 minutes in the second Test defeat of Wales last month, however he concedes there is more pressure as a member of the starting XV.

"In the Wales Test the boys were already winning and they were going quite well and it was a matter of fitting in when you get on the field so I will be a lot more nervous starting," he said. "I see them putting a bit of pressure on me, being the new guy."

Ranger was one of two changes to the side which won 32-12 in game one at Eden Park with Piri Weepu coming in to make his first Test start since 2008 at the expense of Jimmy Cowan, who drops to the bench.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said: "We have stuck with the majority of players who played so well in last week's win at Eden Park and they are ready for what will be another major contest. The players know that they will face a different, more physical Springboks side." Richard Kahui will see a specialist on Monday for a further assessment on the extent of his shoulder injury.

"It's hugely disappointing for Richard who has played extremely well for the All Blacks and contributed greatly to the team so far this year and he will be sorely missed. We will await advice from the medical team on how long he will be out for," Henry added.

South Africa fly-half Morne Steyn has rubbished suggestions that the Springboks need to change their gameplan after last Saturday's defeat and believes that simply improving on the "small things" will be enough to see them reverse that setback in Wellington.

"I think the whole team is ready for this week. We must take another step from last week. It wasn't the best week we wanted," said Steyn.

"The whole Springbok set up and the way we play...there is nothing to be changed now that we lost.

"I think it is just the small things we have to do 100 per cent and concentrate on the kicks to be more specific and on target and hopefully we will go better.

"We played the same sort of rugby and won the Tri Nations last year so we don't want to change the whole gameplan if we lose one game.

"We are still going to stick to our kicking game but we want to give the guys outside a little bit more."

Coach Peter de Villiers has expressed confidence in the players beaten in Auckland to turn the tables on the All Blacks in Wellington.

De Villiers said South Africa had "a bad day" at Eden Park and the same players were capable of making amends.

"I trust the bunch of people that are with me, they just weren't on song last weekend," he said. "These boys are much better than what they showcased on Saturday. They just had a bad game and I expect them to be back to form this weekend.

"When Tiger Woods has a bad day, it doesn't mean he's not the No 1 golf player in the world. He's just had a bad day."

NEW ZEALAND: M Muliaina; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, R Ranger; D Carter, P Weepu; T Woodcock, K Mealamu; O Franks; B Thorn; T Donnelly; J Kaino; R McCaw (captain), K Read. Substitutes: C Flynn, B Franks, S Whitelock, L Messam, J Cowan, A Cruden, I Dagg.

SOUTH AFRICA: Z Kirchner, J de Villiers, J Fourie, W Olivier, B Habana, M Steyn, R Januarie; G Steenkamp, J Smit (captain), CJ van der Linde, D Rossouw, V Matfield, S Burger, F Louw, P Spies. Substitutes: C Ralepelle, BJ Botha, A Bekker, R Kankowski, R Pienaar, B James, G Aplon.