Owen Franks has risen through the ranks with a starting selection for the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations Test in Durban.

The 21-year-old, who had not even started a game of Super 14 rugby at the beginning of this year, has replaced the injured Neemia Tialata at tighthead prop, one of two changes Graham Henry makes to the team which started against South Africa last weekend.

Brendon Leonard has paid the price for a below-par performance in the 28-19 defeat in Bloemfontein with number one choice Jimmy Cowan reinstated at scrum-half.

But it is Franks' meteoric rise which has been the main talking point.

At the start of the Super 14 he was ranked fourth-choice behind older brother Ben, Wyatt Crockett and Bronson Murray at the Crusaders.

But Murray's drop in form and a foot injury to Ben resulted in Franks getting regular game-time in the second half of the competition where his form impressed the All Blacks selectors so much he was named in the Junior All Blacks squad before being drafted in to the senior New Zealand side as propping cover.

He made his international debut in the reserves against Italy in June and impressed coming off the bench against Australia and in Bloemfontein last weekend.

"He's mentally tough. He's got a very, very single focus on what he wants to achieve and he works hard to achieve that," forwards coach Steve Hansen told The Press.

"He's been on the radar for a long time.

"He's like his brother. He's played in under-age sides and he's just come through very quickly this year." John Afoa has been named on the bench as cover for both sides of the scrum.

As for Leonard, Henry had some sympathy for his despondent half-back.

"He is deeply disappointed. We are all disappointed for him. He has a big future. I think he's a very good footballer.

"I just think he needs a bit more game time and he played when the All Blacks weren't playing particularly well. He will get another opportunity, hopefully not too far ahead, and he will take it."