Skippers to miss Tri-Nations clash

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw and Australia skipper Stirling Mortlock will both miss Saturday's Tri Nations game in Sydney.

Open-side flanker McCaw was described as being 50-50 to make the Bledisloe Cup clash, but the problem he suffered in the second Test victory over England will again keep him on the sidelines.

Daniel Braid will start in place of McCaw, who is expected to feature in the return fixture against the Wallabies next Saturday, in one of five changes to the team that lost to South Africa a fortnight ago.

Rodney So'oialo, who will captain the All Blacks, will play at blind-side flanker after Adam Thomson was dropped, while lock Brad Thorn, prop Greg Somerville, winger Anthony Tuitavake and centre Richard Kahui are all included in the starting line-up.

Aussie centre Mortlock suffered concussion in the Wallabies win over South Africa last week so rugby league convert Ryan Cross will be handed his full debut.

George Smith is named as stand-in captain while Cross's addition to the starting line-up has led to a call-up to the bench for Timana Tahu, who also switched from league to union at the start of the year.