New Zealand scrum 'back on track'

New Zealand hooker Andrew Hore is confident that the All Blacks will show further improvement in their set-pieces when they take on South Africa in Bloemfontein today.

Hore made a shaky start against Australia in his first game back from a rib injury, but was more impressive in his general play as the pack gradually took control to grind out a 22-16 win in their Tri-Nations opener.

"At the start, I overthrew a couple [of line-out throws] and it was back on me to throw a few and get my confidence back up," he said. "You have to play games to get used to dumping it and starting again. When we backed our systems and what we were doing it came good."

Hore also believes the pack are on the right track with their scrummaging work after indifferent displays against France and Italy. "It's a work in progress. We are building away. We are slowly getting up to where we were."

Despite the improvement shown against the Wallabies, Hore knows the Boks' scrum will be a different proposition. Captain John Smit has made a successful switch to tighthead prop to make way for Bismarck Du Plessis at hooker, and loosehead Tendai Mtawarira was a star in the first Test against the British and Irish Lions. "It's always been pretty tough up front," conceded Hore.

South Africa: F Steyn; J P Pietersen, J Fourie, J de Villiers, B Habana; R Pienaar, F du Preez; T Mtawarira, B du Plessis, J Smit (capt), B Botha, V Matfield, H Brussow, J Smith, P Spies. Replacements: C Ralepelle, J du Plessis, D Rossouw, R Kankowski, R Januarie, M Steyn, W Olivier

New Zealand: M Muliaina; J Rokocoko, C Smith, M Nonu, S Sivivatu; S Donald, B Leonard; A Woodcock, A Hore, N Tialata, B Thorn, I Ross, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), R So'oialo. Replacements: K Mealamu, O Franks, J Eaton, K Read, P Weepu, L McAlister, C Jane. Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).