Blues back Stephen Perofeta has been called up for an All Blacks debut with Beauden Barrett missing from Ian Foster’s 23 to face Argentina on Saturday.
Perofeta has been named on the bench with Richie Mo’unga to start at No.10. Barrett was not selected due to a neck injury suffered at training on Tuesday, having also hurt his neck during the first Test loss to the Springboks.
It is an otherwise unchanged 23 from the team that upset the Boks at Ellis Park 12 days ago.
“It’s great for us to be able to return to Christchurch,” Foster said in a statement. “The All Blacks have such a rich history here and it’s exciting to build on that.
“The recent form of Argentina makes this a Test one that we are looking forward to. And the fact that the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship is incredibly even means this Test is vital to us.”
Argentina coach Michael Cheika made three changes to his starting line-up.
Two of the changes and an overhaul of the bench were forced by Cheika’s decision to leave front-row forwards Francisco Gomez Kodela, Agustin Creevy and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro as well as winger Juan Imhoff out of the squad for the New Zealand trip.
Although Argentina lead the Rugby Championship standings after the first two rounds, Cheika knows he must manage the game time of his more experienced players with half an eye on next year’s World Cup.
Joel Sclavi moves up from the bench to replace Gomez Kodela at tighthead prop and Lucio Cinti, nominally a centre, will start on the left wing in place of Imhoff, bringing a bit more bulk to the Pumas backline in Christchurch.
The third change was an enforced tweak to the midfield, Matias Orlando coming in at inside centre to partner Matias Moroni in place of Jeronimo de la Fuente, who pulled a hamstring in the act of scoring a try against the Wallabies.
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets):
1.Ethan de Groot (6)
2.Samisoni Taukei’aho (13)
3.Tyrel Lomax (16)
4.Sam Whitelock (136)
5.Scott Barrett (52)
6.Shannon Frizell (19)
7.Sam Cane © (82)
8.Ardie Savea (64)
9.Aaron Smith (107)
10.Richie Mo’unga (37)
11.Caleb Clarke (7)
12.David Havili (18)
13.Rieko Ioane (52)
14.Will Jordan (17)
15.Jordie Barrett (41)
16.Codie Taylor (70)
17.George Bower (16)
18.Fletcher Newell (1)
19.Tupou Vaa’i (14)
20.Akira Ioane (16)
21.Finlay Christie (8)
22.Stephen Perofeta * debut
23.Quinn Tupaea (11)
Argentina
Team: 15-Juan Cruz Mallia, 14-Emiliano Boffelli, 13-Matias Moroni, 12-Matias Orlando, 11-Lucio Cinti, 10-Santiago Carreras, 9-Gonzalo Bertranou, 8-Pablo Matera, 7-Marcos Kremer, 6-Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5-Tomas Lavanini, 4-Matias Alemanno, 3-Joel Sclavi, 2-Julian Montoya (captain), 1-Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16-Santiago Socino, 17-Mayco Vivas, 18-Eduardo Bello, 19-Guido Petti, 20-Santiago Grondona, 21-Tomas Cubeli, 22-Tomas Albornoz, 23-Santiago Cordero.
smoothy
Roar Rookie
I’m picking that Zarn Sullivan will eventually make the shift back to his traditional position for the Blues, once BB eventually moves on.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Good to see reward for a stand-out performance. Hope Frizzell getting the gig at blindside is making Akira angry so he can deliver in the dark places and up that urgency to go with his great skill-set. I'm a fan of Perofeta and look forward to seeing his speed off the pine around 60. This game should show us more too around the selectors and coaching group plans; more of what we saw at Ellis Park please...
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Lara is right guys. One swallow, does not a summer make. Ellis park was not redemption; it's a building block for the coaching and leadership teams. Bl00dy good one, granted... Los Pumas are not to be under-estimated, especially a the break-down and off set-piece...
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
It was a nasty but legal clean out that buggered up Brodie's shoulder. He was faffing around on the fringe of a breakdown, reaching over trying to slow the Bok ball- a low percentage move that risks a penalty but he got sanctioned by Snyman instead. There was a bit of an outcry at the time but no onfield penalty given or citing afterwards. Scott Barrett did the same thing to an Irish forward in the first Test, just a good, hard cleanout on an opponent who was exposed at a breakdown.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
BOP didn't need them to beat Auckland....
P2R2
Roar Rookie
I hope Foster/Coaches teach him how to tackle......would be a good start - but with FOster you never know....
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yet Perofeta is a FB.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Pumas have been good this year. Aussie aren't as bad as everyone's thinks & Scotland were highly competitive in the 6 nations. They also beat us a couple of years ago.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Ah yeah Lux that's who it was, well remembered. Shoulder to the face. His ball carrying has all but disappeared. He used to be a damaging runner!
Nick
Roar Rookie
That's standard operating procedure these days.
Nick
Roar Rookie
The consistency in selections this week brings hope. Hopefully RM has a blinder & puts the 10 debate to bed!
Otago Man
Roar Rookie
Maybe as a midfield replacement :laughing:
pm
Roar Rookie
Do you thinl Akira Ioane will be in the best 23 for the RWC, Otago? He'll make a few eyecatching plays each game but can he hold his spot above someone a bit grittier? It's been nice to see Frizzell back out there, on the other hand
WEST
Roar Guru
If we didn’t win at Ellis Park.. we’d be very concerned about the possibility of losing to the Argies at home :shocked:
WEST
Roar Guru
Really matters is we can’t afford to lose any more, we’ve put a massive dent in our credibility lately.. For me the RWC should be the last thing on our minds.. honestly this way of thinking has contributed to getting us in this fukn mess to begin with! Thinking about a tournament 4 years away is an appetite for destruction.. Understand building depth, collecting more caps yadda yadda but not at the expense of the National team, not at the expense of the black jersey, get that humming first, trophies and titles will come flow on from that. Can’t do sht without a settled well established team.. Look at results since 2019.
WEST
Roar Guru
Curious case of Papalii?? Was one of, if not the best loose forward in the country! Takes his old Chevy for a joy ride and suddenly he’s now off the list!
RICARDO PROVAN
Guest
IMO most AB supporters are over rating Los Pumas. If ABs do their usual thing, they should win relatively comfortably. For Pumas to beat them they need everything to go right for 80 minutes, but the ABs, even in an off day, are mighty. The caliber of individual players is much superior to the Argentinian´s. It is nice to read NZ supporters take a test match against Pumas seriously, it speaks volumes of their gallantry and professionalism. Still, every Goliath has its David. It´ll be an early morning for me, and I hope Pumas play good rugby, whether they loose or win. What REALLY matters is the coming RWC
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
Guzzler hasn't been his old self since Snyman belted him.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Consistency in selection is always a good start. Very pleased there has been no changes from the starting XV that played at Ellis Park. Do hope Perofeta can get a decent stint for his debut. Has really earnt this call up.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Iafeta Paleaaesina = Mr Effective. That man use to make some big yards. He was used for good sharp impactful bursts.