Ian Foster announced 11 changes to his starting line-up to take on Argentina this Saturday at Suncorp Stadium.
The All Blacks coached explained that, “with five Tests in a row and a six-day turnaround between these two Argentinian Tests, we were always going to make some selection changes…” as he confirmed his team selection today.
In the forwards, the entire pack has been changed after last Sunday’s game but the names are still very impressive.
Joe Moody will add to his 51 caps and will bring experience to a relatively inexperienced front row where he will be joined by Samisoni Taukei’aho and Tyrel Lomax who have just 14 caps between them.
Brodie Retallick is rested for the day altogether and Scott Barrett will come off the bench meaning that the new lock pairing of Patrick Tuipulotu and Tupou Vaa’i will get a chance to impress.
Tuipulotu already has 38 caps to his name and will want to push his case that he should be higher up the pecking order.
In the back row, Ardie Savea rejoins the team and will wear the captain’s armband. He’ll be joined by Ethan Blackadder and Hoskins Sotutu.
TJ Perenara will be pulling the strings at half back and he’ll have Damian McKenzie outside him. The Chiefs playmaker gets his first start at flyhalf and he’ll want to bring his own flair and pace to the All Blacks game plan.
In the centres Quinn Tupaea will get his second cap and partner up with the experienced Rieko Ioane. Ioane has moved in from the wing and so in the back three George Bridge, Jordie Barrett and Will Jordan will start.
There’s well over 250 All Blacks’ caps on the bench including Codie Taylor, George Bower and Ofa Tuungafasi providing the front row cover.
It’s the first time Tuungafasi has been seen on All Blacks duty for a while as the talented prop has been recovering from a nasty knee injury that required surgery.
Scott Barrett and Luke Jacobson complete the forwards bench and then they are joined by Finlay Christie who will hope to get some decent minutes in his first Rugby Championship test.
Beauden Barrett and Braydon Ennor round out the bench.
Foster was clear that the All Blacks are not taking the Pumas lightly, even after keeping them scoreless last week.
“We are expecting a huge response,” commented Foster. “If we go into this Test match thinking it’s just going to happen for us like last week without earning the right to have the scoreboard in our favour, then we are in trouble.”
Foster seems to be thinking that with so many new players, any thoughts of complacency or assumption that the game will be the same as last time, are reduced.
There’s clearly plenty of competition within the squad and Foster will use the game as another opportunity to rest some players and also assess others and the combinations that are in action.
New Zealand match day team (15-1)
Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Quinn Tupaea, George Bridge, Damian McKenzie, TJ Perenara, Hoskins Sotutu, Ardie Savea (capt), Ethan Blackadder, Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tyrel Lomax, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Joe Moody.
Reserves: Codie Taylor, George Bower, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Luke Jacobson, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Braydon Ennor.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Too right JD, and Daniel Carter came back from Japan to win player of the tournament in the 2015 RWC.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Jimbob, I agree, Blackadder though to me seems the real deal. He is still young and will only get better with time, I am expecting a good game from him.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Blessing, I think that Faith has no faith. Foster is doing the right thing by managing the welfare of the players, it easy for a couch potato to comment.
WEST
Roar Guru
In case anyone isn’t aware.. New Zealand will return to number one in the world if they beat Argentina by more than 15 points and South Africa also lose to Australia. A smaller margin would be enough for the All Blacks to reclaim top spot if Australia win by more than 15 points. – New Zealand cannot fall from second place, even if they lose by more than 15 points and Australia beat the Springboks as emphatically. However… South Africa’s cushion at the top has shrunk to 2.18 points but could increase to 5.03 points if they win by more than 15 points and New Zealand lose by that margin. – Australia will climb two places to third if they beat South Africa for the second week running – a position they haven’t occupied since June 2018. :silly: Good luck :thumbdown:
Armageddon Pendi
Guest
You stick an All Black jersey on 15 Wallabies and they'd win a Bledesloe Cup. No worries mate. They'll do alright against the Argie-Bargies!
HiKa
Roar Rookie
When it comes to playing the Boks, I would be astounded if anyone picked Damien McKenzie ahead of Jordie Barrett. With so many contested highballs, the 20cm/8inch height difference really does make quite a difference (so long as Jordie keeps his feet down :silly: ).
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
I thought Akira had a quiet game last week. He was very passive. He needs to realise that every bad game is a game closer to losing your spot.
Atapene
Roar Rookie
Leaders. They have experience scattered throughout. They have an experienced prop, a lock, a flanker, a halfback, a center, a wing. Every position has an experienced buddy. What more do you want? Does it look like a bad team? They might not win but they are going to play pretty well
Spew_81
Roar Rookie
He needs to find his inner anger and take it out on the opposition. It doesn't seem like he knows how to flick the switch.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Faith I think you are incorrect about Dmac making the WC side. His versatility is amazing and altho he hasnt come back in the best of form since his red card v the Reds he will have a full 2023 SR on the back of a 2022 test series and EOYT. Im backing him in. His SRA form was "best in country" singlehandedly getting the Chiefs turned around from last years debarcle.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
He wasnt in good form anyway.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Faith I think Foster is being smart in doing this now. It has to be done as you cant have these guys playing test after test without some sort of break at times and as a NZ supporter I want to beat SA next week more than I want to beat Arg this week. So its rest them this week or suffer the consequences at some point.
Highlander
Roar Guru
While this is a seriously second string AB side they will have the advantage of Los Pumas being put through the wringer last week. Argentina starting forwards made 135 tackles and missed 11, thats a great result but a huge work load. Starting backs, made 23 and missed 14 - guess what these guys have been doing this week
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
Genuine question, in fact it was one my son asked me last week and I couldn't answer. How many players from a ream have to be rested or out for what ever reason to consider team 2nd string or 3rd string????
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
I think he is there to boost up defense close in around the ruck.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
I think he has been put in the corner because of his Olympic dream. A good season next year and he will be back. Love the potential of this man. Great Depth of the wing's isn't it.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Faith, not surprising given that as of August 14 2021, he has only played one test. On that basis it's a little hard to tell whether or not he is test class. Having watched a fair bit of him in SR and NPC my view is that he is certainly well worth persevering with at test level.
Francisco Roldan
Roar Rookie
Hi Nobrain...! Argentina has tested from # RWC2019 to the current # TRCH2021 five combinations between 9 and 10. The line up to face NZL shows the first association between Bertranou and Carreras. Undoubtedly, this generates predisposing conditions for a low degree of cohesion in the creative axis.
Machpants
Roar Guru
Very much a B/C team, with only one first choice player in his correct position, moody, and he's on return from injury. Ardie and Reiko first choice but not in their current position (8 and wing, ALB ahead of Ioane). Jordie could be argued as first choice, but foster seems to prefer DMac at 15. Outside of them, many player 3rd or even 4th choices, many also is their first, m second, or third start. Our tight five will have to work hard versus a hurting Argentina. Sotutu especially needs to improve on an insipid year. DMac needs to run straight. I think this will be a messy, dull test, but the ABs should win
Digby
Roar Guru
Excited to see how this group functions, hopefully well. Not sure some of the combinations are all that complimentary however, lets see. Good challenge.