All Blacks skipper McCaw back for title decider

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has proven his fitness and been included in the team for a Rugby Championship decider against the Springboks at Ellis Park Saturday. A knee injury kept the star flank out of the first clash between the countries this season which New Zealand won 29-15 after South African hooker Bismarck du Plessis was red carded. McCaw also sat out a 33-15 victory over Argentina in La Plata five days ago which gave the title-holders a five-point lead at the top of the table. Sam Cane, who excelled as a stand-in loose forward and scored tries against South Africa and Argentina, drops to the bench. The other change made by coach Steve Hansen to the starting line-up is also in the pack with Charlie Faumuina replacing injured Owen Franks. Tighthead Franks was forced to retire during the Pumas Test with a groin injury and failed to recover for the sell-out Johannesburg showdown. Ben Franks, a brother of Owen, is elevated to the bench in place of Faumuina and young hooker Dane Coles is preferred to vastly experienced Keven Mealamu. "Playing the Springboks at Ellis Park is a challenge this team is really looking forward to and one we are very excited about," said Hansen. "We know the South Africans will come at us with their physical game, but to win the Championship they will have to score four tries. "So we are expecting more ball movement than we have seen in the past, and the answer is pretty simple for us. "We will  have to match their physicality and be very accurate with our execution across the park -- both on attack and defensively." To snatch the title South Africa must win by at least eight points, score at least four tries, and prevent New Zealand claiming a four-try bonus point. The countries have met 44 times in the republic since 1928 with the All Blacks winning 25, the Springboks 18 and one Test was drawn. Team (15-1) Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea; Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Liam Messam; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Charlie Faumuina, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock Replacements: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Steven Luatua, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Charles Piutau Coach: Steve Hansen Source: AFP