New Zealand are back to full strength for their Tri-Nations clash with Argentina in Sydney on Saturday following their shock loss last round to the Wallabies.
The All Blacks have named their first-choice halves combination of Richie Mo’unga and Aaron Smith, who sat out the Brisbane defeat, while barnstorming winger Caleb Clarke is also back in the line-up.
Among other changes, veteran prop Joe Moody returns after missing two Tests through concussion with Tyrel Lomax replacing suspended prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Patrick Tuipulotu, who missed the Brisbane Test with illness, has been named in the second row.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster said he wanted to see a “smarter” performance from his troops.
“We were bitterly disappointed with the loss against Australia on the weekend, but we’ve taken a lot of lessons from that game,” Foster said.
“Specifically, we need to be smarter in seeing space and executing our plan around that.”
He said the All Blacks were on guard for the Pumas, who pushed them before falling 20-16 last year.
“The Argentinians are well coached by Mario Ledesma and we have a lot of respect for them,” he said.
“You only need to go back to Buenos Aires last year, when we had a real arm wrestle with them, to know how tough they can be.
“They’ve been in Australia for a number of weeks, they are well-prepared and this is their first Test of 2020 so it’ll be a massive occasion for them and their country so we have to be ready.”
Meanwhile, Los Pumas have also named their side to face the All Blacks, with Pablo Matera to captain and Santiago Chocobares, Santiago Grondona and Lucio Cinti to make their debuts.
New Zealand
1. Joe Moody, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jack Goodhue, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Jordie Barrett, 15. Beauden Barrett
Replacements: 16. Codie Taylor, 17. Alex Hodgman, 18. Nepo Laulala, 19. Tupou Vaa’i, 20. Hoskins Sotutu, 21. Brad Weber, 22. Rieko Ioane, 23. Damian McKenzie
Argentina
1. Tetaz, 2. Julian Montoya, 3. Francisco Gómez-Kodela, 4. Guido Petti, 5. Matias Alemanno, 6. Pablo Matera (C), 7. Marcos Kremer, 8. Rodrigo Bruni, 9. Tomas Cubelli, 10. Nicolas Sánchez, 11. Juan Imhoff, 12. Santiago Chocobares, 13. Matias Orlando, 14. Bautista Delguy, 15. Santiago Carreras
Replacements: 16. Facundo Bosch, 17. Mayco Vivas, 18. Santiago Medrano, 19. Santiago Grondona, 20. Tomas Lezana, 21. Gonzalo Bertranou, 22. Lucio Cinti, 23. Santiago Cordero
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Roar Guru
The vultures are picking at the carcass now. ABs management need to take a serious look at the All Black culture
Mick Gibson
Roar Rookie
Prophetic words those :)
Mick Gibson
Roar Rookie
Hmmm - well that prediction was off. Dont you just love sport :)
Mick Gibson
Roar Rookie
You were right :)
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Ah its been a lazy six months or so and not the dread in covid free Queensland that you must have seen. But the wheel of time etc.... I share the love for Bender with you and agree no one else quite measures up. I have seen great things already from Will Jordan. He really could go well at the same gig in years to come
Gloria
Roar Rookie
Double post
Gloria
Roar Rookie
You don’t like it? That is called cognitive dissonance. Blame Foster. :laughing:
Panana split
Roar Rookie
Not embarrassing at all, the wallabies have alot of talent. This isnt rugby league where number six is equivalent to a NSW team.
kgbagent
Roar Rookie
You are rather tedious
Gloria
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Gloria
Roar Rookie
I don’t support the Wallabies based on their wins and losses. Must be embarrassing for you that your team just lost to them. :stoked: 2 v 6 and 6 wins.
CUW
Roar Rookie
@ NOBRAIN are all the europe based players back. i dont see the famos 2nd rower and most of the props. BTW what happened to that 8 ISA?
CUW
Roar Rookie
Laumape was not missing its just that aussy had a really big 10 - so whenever Laumape ran into him he was stopped. everyone has seen NL run over small 10s in miter 10 or super rugger but Hodge is like 6' 3" 95 kg - more or less built like a flanker
CUW
Roar Rookie
well better than jailbait!!! but just try saying this name fast 5 times in 10 seconda, jacob ratumaitavuki kneepkens
CUW
Roar Rookie
not sure how he is now but NS wasnt that great in europe - he was ok but didnt set the place on fire.
CUW
Roar Rookie
CJ and NMS could wing it for any country test team - they were good Kahui could have become a great - if not for the plethora of injuries , he was a natural but far too long out injured so lucky to play a world cup SBW was a stop gap if ever - did not thave the pace when he came to rugger , not seen how he was in league. Piutau had the skills to be a wing but he was far more comfortable as a 15 - very much like Dagg who also played wing for NZ. both had the pace and confort under bombs even now ALB has played on the wing for NZ and GOODHUE was under 20 wing and TJP was a wing at world cup and scored the best try !!!
CUW
Roar Rookie
Ben smith could not play 13 - that is a fact !!!
CUW
Roar Rookie
France dont believe in openside and blindside thingy they just have flankers - really big ones
CUW
Roar Rookie
perhaps they accepted the tackle was bad - but that the card was wrong. lets say this is like murder vz involuntary manslughter as i said above the famos case of Nathan Hughes in gallagher
CUW
Roar Rookie
warning is when there is mitigating factors that count against a conviction. there was the famos case of Nathan Hughes tackle on North ( i think ) which left the player badly injured and a red card - which was rescinded because there was mitigating fact - both were on the ground Hughes was warned to be careful but the panel thought he was not acting maliciously or he had little time to change or adapt to the situation. Read OT verdict - panel agreed by majority = there was dissent to the decision!!!