Cooper changes seven for semis
New Zealand team to play South Africa
New Zealand coach Greg Cooper has made seven changes, including three positional switches, to the starting line-up for his team's International Rugby Board (IRB) Under-21 World Championship semi-final against South Africa in France on Wednesday.
Captain Jamie Mackintosh moves from loosehead to tighthead prop in place of Michael Reid. Arden David-Perrot will play in the No.1 jersey, while Lance Po-Ching replaces Hikawera Elliot at hooker.
Ryan Wilson comes in at lock for Michael Paterson, who moves to blindside flanker. Onosai'i Tololima-Auva'a, who played in the No.6 jersey against Australia last week, will be openside flanker in place of Serge Lilo.
The only change in the backline is at centre where Richard Kahui replaces Robbie Flynn.
Coach Cooper said the changes were reflective of the type of game New Zealand wanted to play against South Africa.
"South Africa is traditionally strong in the forwards and that is a part of their game that we will have to match them in. We have reviewed our performance against Australia and identified the areas that we were exposed in and will be looking to improve on that against South Africa," he said.
New Zealand: 15 George Pisi (North Harbour), 14 Lelia Masaga (Counties Manukau), 13 Richard Kahui (Waikato, vice captain), 12 Stephen Brett (Canterbury), 11 James Somerset (Auckland), 10 William Ripia (Waikato), 9 Alby Mathewson (Wellington), 8 Kieran Read (Canterbury), 7 Onosai'i Tololima-Auva'a (Auckland), 6 Michael Paterson (Canterbury), 5 Ryan Wilson (North Harbour), 4 Jeremy Thrush (Wellington), 3 Jamie Mackintosh (Southland, captain), 2 Lance Po-Ching (Auckland), 1 Arden David-Perrot (Wellington).
Replacements: 16 Hikawera Elliot (Hawke's Bay), 17 Matthew Wallis (Bay of Plenty), 18 Mikaele Tuu'u (Canterbury), 19 Serge Lilo (Wellington), 20 Taniela Moa (Auckland), 21 Robbie Flynn (Tasman), 22 Jared Payne (Waikato)
