WELLINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Australia expect New Zealand to improve in the lineout despite making wholesale changes to the team for their Tri-Nations encounter at Westpac Stadium on Saturday, lock James Horwill said.

The All Black lineout performed poorly against South Africa in Hamilton last week, losing five of their own throws as the Springboks went on to win the match 32-29 and claim a first Tri-Nations title since 2004.

New Zealand have subsequently made five personnel changes to the team to play Australia in the final match of the tournament this weekend, three of them among the forwards.

Prop Neemia Tialata, flanker Adam Thomson and debutant lock Tom Donnelly have all come into the side in place of Owen Franks, Jerome Kaino and Isaac Ross respectively.

All three will have significant roles in the lineout, with Donnelly and Thomson employed as jumping options, while Tialata will be used as a lifter.

The change in personnel should not upset the All Blacks' preparations or performance on Saturday, Horwill said.

"When you see a team perform poorly one week, the next week they are usually much, much better," Horwill told the Fairfax website (www.stuff.co.nz). "I expect that to be the case here.

I'm sure their lineout will be a lot better this weekend.

"The Springboks are a very good lineout, especially defensively.

"They are a tough prospect and I guess we know how they (the All Blacks) feel a little bit after our performance (against South Africa) in Newlands wasn't up to scratch."

Otago lock Donnelly, who will make his debut just 12 days short of his 28th birthday, also expected the lineout to operate better as a unit against the Wallabies.

"You have to put it into perspective a bit," Donnelly told reporters. "The All Blacks lineout has been up against the Springboks and they are the best in the world.

"(Lock) Victor Matfield is probably the best lineout forward in the world."

"If you look at our second half last week we improved a lot and started winning some ball so we just have to carry that into this week."