RUGBY - Tri-Nations - New Zealand 28 South Africa 30:SOUTH AFRICA have called up the uncapped Adriaan Strauss to replace hooker Bismarck du Plessis, who was banned for three weeks for careless conduct during Saturday's 30-28 Tri-Nations victory over New Zealand.

The 23-year-old Free State Cheetahs hooker will arrive in Perth tomorrow to prepare for Saturday's Test against Australia.

Du Plessis was found guilty by a South Africa, New Zealand and Australia (Sanzar) hearing of making contact with the eye area of flanker Adam Thompson in the first half in Dunedin.

He was cleared of charges of gouging, with judicial officer Kim Garling ruling the contact was careless and not deliberate.

Du Plessis's suspension runs up to and including August 3rd but the only Test match he will miss is against Australia.

Strauss is the second hooker brought into the squad in as many weeks after captain John Smit's withdrawal through injury a week ago saw Schalk Brits of Stormers join up in Wellington.

Brits is likely to make his starting debut on Saturday.

Smit has been ruled out of the rest of the Tri-Nations campaign. He had surgery in Johannesburg last week on the groin injury he suffered in an off-the-ball incident with All Black lock Brad Thorn in the 19-8 defeat by New Zealand in Wellington on July 5th.

The Springboks said Smit's surgery was successful but have not put a date on his return to duty.

"I have obviously been very down since I returned home, but the guys brought a smile to my face," Smit said in reference to South Africa's win, their first in New Zealand since 1998.

"It was an incredible win, and vindication for all the hard work that has gone in by all involved."

Scrumhalf Enrico Januarie scored the winning try with four minutes remaining on Saturday after the Springboks had been reduced to 14 men by captain Victor Matfield's yellow card.

Matfield had been sent off three minutes earlier for a high tackle and New Zealand outhalf Dan Carter kicked his sixth penalty to give the All Blacks a 28-23 lead.

But the world champions showed tremendous willpower to fight their way back and register their first win in Dunedin at their eighth attempt and their first in New Zealand since a 13-3 triumph in Wellington in 1998.

In a fiercely contested match the Springboks snatched a 17-15 half-time lead with a 32nd-minute try by wing JP Pietersen.

The All Blacks regained the lead in the 56th minute as replacement flanker Sione Lauaki stepped inside to score.

In the end, a moment of individual brilliance by Januarie settled the outcome.

The scrumhalf broke from a ruck on the New Zealand 10-metre line and chipped the ball over replacement fullback Leon MacDonald, before winning the race to the ball and scoring.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said the win had no bearing on his coaching credentials.

De Villiers, South Africa's first black coach, had been under pressure in New Zealand and back at home after the world champions lost 19-8 in Wellington last week.

"I've got nothing to prove. I believe in myself, the players and God. Everyone's entitled to their opinion but the way we stood up today as a group can change those opinions," De Villiers said.

"I always believed in the players and tonight they put it together because they believed in themselves. The players worked really hard in the week before the game and, because they are the world champions, they knew they had to uplift their game."

NEW ZEALAND:Muliaina; Sivivatu, Smith, Nonu, Wulf; Carter, Ellis; Woodcock, Hore, Afoa; Boric, Williams; Thomson, So'oialo, Kaino. Replacements: Mealamu, Tialata, O'Neill, Lauaki, Cowan, Donald, MacDonald.

SOUTH AFRICA:Montgomery; Pietersen, Jacobs, de Villiers, Habana; James, Januarie; Steenkamp, du Plessis, van der Linde; Botha, Matfield; Burger, Smith, Van Niekerk. Replacements: Brits, Mujati, Bekker, Watson, Pienaar, Steyn, Jantjes.

Referee:Matt Goddard (South Africa).