Argentina may just have stumbled upon the blueprint for success against the All Blacks two weeks ago, according to assistant Ian Foster.
But producing the intensity required to keep it going for the full 80 minutes is another matter entirely.
Los Pumas combined strength at the breakdown, off-loading and set-piece competence to rattle the world champions in their Rugby Championship tie in Hamilton.
The South American side scored the first try and went into the break only five points behind before collapsing in the final half-hour to lose 57-22.
Foster told Radio Sport the coaching set-up was looking to produce a game plan capable of subduing Los Pumas’ exuberance around the park.
That meant adapting some structures for Saturday’s encounter in Buenos Aires to ward off predictability.
Players have also repeatedly spoken of the need to dominate the encounter early and silence a raucous Argentinian home crowd.
“I guess you can talk about their 50 minutes, and we did pretty well in that last 30 but we’ve got to be careful,” Foster said.
“They would’ve learned a lot about us in that last 30.”
The All Blacks have traditionally eschewed frequent squad changes under current coach Steve Hansen, sticking to the tried-and-true to get the job done.
But Foster felt he and his fellow coaches had learned in previous tours that some changes were necessary to keep energy levels high.
All players were training well in the lead up to Saturday’s match and would have until Wednesday to put themselves in the frame for a run-on position.
Either Elliot Dixon or Liam Squire will fill in for the crocked Jerome Kaino at blindside, while others including prop Wyatt Crockett could start.
However Foster said squad changes, if made, would not be wholesale.
“If we are putting newer players in there, then they’ve got players around them that can enable them to just go out there and do what they need to,” Foster said.
Crockett, 33, said he and his fellow front row teammates had been training hard in the hope of overcoming Los Pumas’ renowned physicality.
Scrums, mauls and line-outs were particular areas of focus.
“There’s a pretty good threat, you could be embarrassed scrumming Argentina,” the Crusaders veteran said.
The 52-cap Crockett, who made his Test debut in 2009, also expressed his wish to play through to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
taylorman
Guest
8 changes CUW. One thing about Hansen is he always springs a selection like this once the team has got off to a start. He knows many players have played a lot of rugby and he also knows many have played little. Other than not losing here is little on this match- no titles etc...the ideal situation to put players under pressure. I think he'll be doing this a lot as he continues to build greater depth as he awaits his injureds to return (SBW, NMS, Moala etc) and will already be thinking about the Lions tour.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes the Lions tour is set up to fail with that itinerary. NZ sides will want to make sure that side goes home packing big time. If they play too many seconds sides they risk being a laughing stock, if they play too many top sides they risk injury to key players and fatigue by the time the tests roll around. The non test playing depth of NZ Super sides is strong these days. I see Hansens made 8 changes. Risky but thats the luxury of choice he has.
taylorman
Roar Guru
You got that quote from Richard Loe didnt you? Come on admit it!?
Bobby Fizzicola
Guest
With all the talk of the other countries rebuilding, NZ's back line to face the Lions will likely look dramatically different to the one which has been lining up this year. Next year the NZ back line looks pretty nasty. The selectors will have to choose from A. Smith, Perenara, B. Barrett, Sopoanga, McKenzie, Crotty, Williams, Ngatai, Fekatoa, Moala, Milner-Skudder, J. Savea, R. Ioane, Naholo, and B. Smith. I do not include Dagg in that list as he will be lucky to be warming pine next year if everyone is fit...add the emerging talents such as Jordie Barrett (who may be the long term option at 12 after Williams does what ever he will do), and the back line stocks are not looking too bad. My back line would be something like as follows: 9. A. Smith, 10. B. Barrett, 11. Naholo, 12. Williams, 13. Fekatoa, 14. Milner-Skudder, 15. B. Smith.
System of a Downey Jr
Roar Rookie
Whoops! Copy and paste error - Meant to have Franks starting not Crockett. At the risk of embarassing myself further though can't Charlie cover both sides of the scrum?
lassitude
Guest
That's why you should never let the metrosexuals in the high numbers get involved in the thinking. IQ is inversely proportional to the number they wear. Tight forwards are where the smarts are.
Zack
Roar Rookie
Didn't you read the memo? They're All Blacks - they can do anything :-(
taylorman
Roar Guru
Aah...that's why I don't write teams out without checking the wonderful world of 'propping' beforehand. ?
lassitude
Guest
That's absurd. You have 2 loose heads starting and 2 tight heads on the bench.
Nobrain
Guest
It is sold out.
CUW
Guest
@ Chivas i will be surprised if there is more than 3 changes to the XV that played the last test. there will be enforced changes in the bench with SOPOAGA surely covering BArret. and i'm sure Hansen will give time to TKB - as he has not played any during 4 nations ( right?)
CUW
Guest
no need to drop Kaino , he is injured and may play against saffers.
System of a Downey Jr
Roar Rookie
I never said that is what they'll be suggesting. I think Ardie is fine to play 80. I just don't think they should put Matt Todd on the bench just because they think Ardie can't make eighty. (Even though I see him do it for the Canes all the time.) That's bad for a seven if he's struggling to play a full test match eighty. And before the game Hansen said "He's a real explosive athlete so is he ready to play 80 minutes? Not sure yet at that level but we will get a good 60 out of him and we know Matty can play for as long as we need him to play." I'd rather which ever loosie out of Dixon or Squire doesn't make the starting team to warm the bench rather than Todd. Ardie Savea justifies a bench position if he's not starting but Todd doesn't for me. Todd is a stop gap seven until Cane is fit and Cane and Savea are the foreseeable future of AB sevens - so I'd rather get Dixon and Squire up to speed and experience for covering any injury to current our 6 and 8s. But it's nit-picking as any combination of players will be too good for the Pumas this week.
Chivas
Guest
Big call there Mania since Moala was a late call up and has played SFA in the black jersey. Pretty sure the selectors and coach won't be subscribing to that view. Fekitoa's defence has been solid as and his ability to get the ball to his outsides is better than Moala's in my view. But Moala hasn't had enoug game time yet to be making any bold calls, certainly not dropping the encumbent.
Chivas
Guest
You reckon that's what they will be telling players.. Don't go too hard, just button of a bit at the start. Save yourself for the end.. especially your seven. I'm pretty sure that won't be a suggestion anyone will be making. i am pretty certain, Ardie will think the opposite. Start hard and show you can make a difference and hold your own while everyone is fresh.
mania
Guest
nah drop romano only need sam on the bench. tuipolotu and retallick to start. moala abd crotty start. I don't really feel that fekitoa is the better centre at this stage. fekitoa can be on the bench.
System of a Downey Jr
Roar Rookie
My team for this test would be... 15. B Smith 14. Naholo 13. Fekitoa 12. Crotty 11. J Savea 10. Barrett 9. A Smith 8. Read 7. A Savea 6. Squire 5. Whitelock 4. Romano 3. Crockett 2. Coles 1. Moody BENCH 16. Taylor 17. Franks 18. Faumuina 19. Tuipulotu 20. Dixon 21. Perenara 22. Sopoaga 23. Moala (Maybe start Dixon and put Squire on the bench - that will be a straight swap. I'd love them to start Sopoaga and bring Barrett off the bench but I have a feeling they'll keep Barrett starting - happy to be proven wrong. Also think they need to blood Tu’ugafasi but maybe Argentina in Argentina isn't the place to do it if they're starting with anything other than their first choice front row - which I think they will.) I think having an openside off the bench for the sake of it - or because the starter can't play 80 minutes effectively is not a good situation to be in. Having Ardie Savea off the bench for Cane is different because Savea is a storming runner against tiring defences in the last 20. Matt Todd is not that player. So I'd rather see Savea rein it in during the first 20 if that's required and play the full eighty - that means they can afford bench space for a 6/8 cover like Dixon/Squire and a Lock.
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
So assuming your dropping kaino you have one bench spot left to cover 9 and 10 ?
Zack
Roar Rookie
Lets hope some of the spectators don't bring out their lasers. I'd like to see Codie Taylor starting with Joe Moody and Owen Franks in the front row, with Faumuina, Coles and Tu'ugafasi off the bench. Liam Squires for Kaino with Todd off the bench. I'd also start Luke Romano with Retallick and inject Tuipulotu and Whitelock from the bench at the 50-minute mark. In the backs, Crotty and Fekitoa need to start to continue developing their partnership, with Moala and Linert-Brown off the bench.
moaman
Roar Guru
Hola Shop! I googled the stadium and it says 49,500 odd capacitiy? Is that right and will it be full for the game,do you think?