The All Blacks have announced an unchanged starting team for the second Test against Argentina in Hamilton.
Flyhalf Beauden Barrett and lock Brodie Retallick have been brought onto the bench as they make their returns from injury.
Hooker Dane Coles and loose forward Dalton Papali’i have also been introduced from the bench as the All Blacks look to bounce back after their loss in the opening match.
“We are obviously looking to build parts of our game and this week is another chance to do that,” said All Blacks head coach Ian Foster. “This year’s Rugby Championship is extremely tight and that makes this weekend’s Test an exciting opportunity.
“As a group, this has been a week of refining areas where we know we can be better. It has been a good preparation in Hamilton so far and the hard work will need to continue so that we get a performance everyone can be proud of.”
Argentina coach Michael Cheika joined Brett McKay and Harry Jones for a fascinating chat after the Pumas win in New Zealand
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets):
1.Ethan de Groot (7)
2.Samisoni Taukei’aho (14)
3.Tyrel Lomax (17)
4.Sam Whitelock (137)
5.Scott Barrett (53)
6.Shannon Frizell (20)
7.Sam Cane (83)
8.Ardie Savea (65)
9.Aaron Smith (108)
10.Richie Mo’unga (38)
11.Caleb Clarke (8)
12.David Havili (19)
13.Rieko Ioane (53)
14.Will Jordan (18)
15.Jordie Barrett (42)
16.Dane Coles (82)
17.George Bower (17)
18.Fletcher Newell (2)
19.Brodie Retallick (95)
20.Dalton Papali’i (15)
21.Finlay Christie (9)
22.Beauden Barrett (106)
23.Quinn Tupaea (12)
South African player caught with pants down
An unnamed Springboks player has apologised after he was caught urinating during a training session on school grounds ahead of this weekend’s clash with the Wallabies at Allianz Stadium.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the incident happened during a training session at Randwick Boys’ High School.
A Springboks official said the player, walked away during training to an isolated location near trees “as it was, unfortunately, an urgent call of nature”.
“The player apologised to the school headmaster,” the official told the paper, who reported the incident was witnessed by the school’s principal, Lance Raskall, and one other adult.
“South African management was quickly alerted to the incident after a complaint was made. The tourists were told their behaviour was not appreciated given the school had been kind enough to let the reigning world champions use their facilities.”
South Africa’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus put doubt on the report, which was confirmed by a spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education.
Bellamy wowed by Marika
There has been a lot of talk this week about rugby union coveting a league star in Joseph Suaalii, but a Wallaby has also made an impact on the NRL.
Marika Koroibete spent three seasons with Melbourne Storm between 2014 and 2016, playing 58 games before switching codes.
Against South Africa last Saturday, Koroibete set Adelaide Oval and international rugby alight when, with the Wallabies a man down, he charged like a missile 40m across the field and tackled Springboks winger Makazole Mapimpi at full tilt.
He sent Mapimpi flying over the sideline, saving a certain try.
Makazole Mapimpi of the Springboks is tackled by Marika Koroibete (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“That was pretty much Marika – he doesn’t do anything unless it’s flat out,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.
The coach said Koroibete’s charge could hold up in any code as an example of what a player could achieve through pure effort.
“It was a great example to any young footy player on how you can change a game with an effort,” he said.
“Just putting effort in – he didn’t have to know too much about the rules, he didn’t have to know too much about tactics and technical – it was just about effort and then a bit of aggression at the end.
“That’s what turns footy games – you put the effort in in your games and you’ll come up with some big plays.”
Tahs sign locks reinforcements
The Waratahs have brought in an experienced lock and two for the future.
Taleni Seu, Zac Von Appen, and Zane Marolt were added to the squad on Thursday for the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.
SUPER RUGBY TRANSFER CENTRE: EVERY SQUAD SO FAR FOR 2023
Seu was part of the Blues academy before moving to the Chiefs where he made his Super Rugby debut in 2016 under current Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
The New Zealand-born lock spent four season with the Chiefs before moving to Toyota Industries Shuttles in Japan Rugby League One.
Seu, who is 201cm and 119kgs, adds significant size to Darren Coleman’s forward pack.
“I am excited to join the Waratahs for the 2023 season. After having a chat with Darren Coleman, I can see what his vision is for the group and how he wants to build on a good 2022 season. The team sounds like a tight group, and I can’t wait to get to work,” Seu said.
“After being in Japan, I’m looking forward to getting back into the competitiveness of Super Rugby, while developing my game under some quality coaches.
“My wife and I have family in Sydney, so it’s going to be a good fit and we are really looking forward to our move later in the year.”
Zac Von Appen, who joins the side on a wider training squad contract, graduated through St Augustine’s College and has been a member of Sydney University’s run to the Shute Shield Grand Final.
Von Appen comes from a high-performance background after representing Australia in rowing at the U23 World Championships, while his father Mario von Appen won an Olympic gold medal as a kayaker with Germany at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and his mother represented Australia at the World Championships, also as a kayaker.
“It’s a real privilege for me to join the Waratahs program, and something that I don’t take for granted,” Von Appen said.
“During my time rowing, I would train twice a day, six times a week, and worked at a bottle shop to support myself.
“To be able to join the program on a full-time basis and dedicate myself to the team I’ve supported since I was a kid is incredibly special to myself and my family. I cannot wait to get stuck in.”
Zane Marolt, born and raised in Queanbeyan, is a product of St Edmonds College and currently plays his club rugby for Queanbeyan Whites.
The 22-year-old lock also joins the team on a wider training contract after spending the past four years in the Brumbies Academy.
He was in Jason Gilmore’s Australian U20 side in 2020 and featured for the Brumbies Runners against the Waratahs A side earlier this season.
“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the Waratahs,” Marolt said.
“The team is trending in the right direction, and I feel this is the best place for my development as a player.
“I can’t wait to get started, work hard, and push my case to hopefully make my Super Rugby debut in 2023.”
“We needed to bolster our second-row stocks in the squad, and I’m really excited with the balance we have achieved with the arrival of these three recruits”, Coleman said.
“Taleni will help us with our short-term needs with his experience, size, and physicality while with Zane and Zac, we are keeping one eye on the future as they are a couple of good long-term prospects.
“We feel all three will make a great contribution to our squad ahead of our 2023 Super Rugby campaign.”
(With AA)
dc nz
Guest
we are slow, pedestrian and predictable. just like fozzy.
WEST
Roar Guru
I hope not :silly: we’ll see :thumbup:
Atlas
Roar Rookie
Cheers. It could be seen as unfair home advantage, and secondly, in terms of player contracts, eg committed a player to the squad, have to pay him out, and hardly good for team cohesion if one can be replaced by an outsider who has eg shown form in NZ's NPC comp. And otherwise, why would they name Retallick knowing he was unavailable for at least half the tournament, they couldn't have Josh Dickson in their named squad and just drop him when Retallick recovered Yes the squad is for the series v Arg Aust, SA: https://www.allblacks.com/news/all-blacks-named-for-lip/ For RWC the rules are clear, again could be wrong but I believe same applied for internationals. RWC, limit 31 in squad, a player may be replaced for medical or compassionate reasons, but would be unable to return to the squad. Any replacement player has an enforced stand-down period of 48 hours before they can take the field.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Ive not heard of it before Atlas but maybe its been that way for a while. I would of thought you can swap players in and out at your convenience when at home but maybe thats living in the past. I see no reason to block any player from playing just because they wernt named in a squad 5 weeks ago sadly. ABs desperately need Weber but he cant come in. Is this squad for the Aus games as well?
Atlas
Roar Rookie
I have thought same as any international series, name a squad, only reason to go outside that group is for injury or suspension cover - as NZ did for SA due to three players being unavailable they got three temporary additional squad members. Happy to be proven wrong, but don't believe it's ever been the case where a home team could just choose to go outside their named confirmed squad. All good!
Tooly
Roar Rookie
The desire to play high risk rugby V the desire to play winning rugby . Craig Bellamy sums Koreibeti up perfectly , he has no idea about the game , rules , tactics or game plans . Probably best with Weismantle instructing them like an acting ceremonial drill Sergeant. Speaking of which : I used to play rugby with some RA Artillery PT instructors , they didn’t know rugby but they were tougher men to Koreibeti. They used arms ; stiff arms .
Jacko
Roar Rookie
When did this squad rule come in? NZ is at home so should be able to select from the whole country shouldnt they?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
And why do wardrobe doors look very similar to loo doors? Who designed them that way?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Let them play instinctively rather than be burdened with faulty plans that aint working.
JaguardoDixit
Roar Rookie
Lavanini and Moroni (team-mates at Leicester Tigers at that time) were ruled out of the 2020 TRN due to injuries. Lavanini had undergone ankle surgery. Moroni had suffered a sprained lateral ligament in his right knee.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Im starting to think the current gameplan is deliberate. You cant be so dumb as to not see it aint working so it has to be a plan to get other teams to believe thats how we play then switch to the other game plan we saw in SA for test 2. What other reason could their be for finding a winning plan and refusing to use it?
Otago Man
Roar Rookie
Good answer. In regards to the length of service that some players have done I’ve got the feeling that this is still one of the experienced squads in our history. 10 years is a long time at the coalface of test rugby. Other nations have plenty of those type of players but historically we have only really kept 1 or 2. I’m sure somebody could provide an informal survey that would undermine that point though.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
I'm a fan of Blackadder the younger, Chivas; he could develop into a great player...
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Passion West... :boxing: Sure it won't come to that mate...
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Lavanini?
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Maybe OM. I heard that Robinson and the Hight Performance head met with Foster before the leg to the republic and Foster refused to fall on his sword, that they would have to sack him. Then we had Ellis Park. The peaks and troughs with this team are bordering on ridiculous. Various players, at various times, from Aaron Smith to Ardie Savea, Ioane the latest, have all backed Fozzie, Schmidt and their "direction". Perhaps we need to give them time; they certainly know more than us about what they're trying to achieve. The leadership question remains valid for mine as we don't see enough adjustment (upping at the break-down and kicking variation are easy ones) and I think it's telling that we have seen Sam subbed twice. The older player question is also a good one when you consider the immediate impact the new front rows have made. someone posted in a thread the other day tat part of the issue we're facing in this tournament are down to squad selection and there might be something in that...
JaguardoDixit
Roar Rookie
A relevant clarification IMHO; in the TRN 2020 The Pumas played: Nov 14 NZL Nov 21 AUS (NZL rest) Nov 28 NZL (AUS rests) Dec 5 AUS After beating ABs and drawing with WBs, Ledesma makes 10 changes for the second game against the ABs. 15. Boffelli x Carreras 14. Cordero x Delguy 13. Mallía x Orlando 12. De La Fuente x Chocobares 11. Moyano x Imhoff 10. Sanchez 9. Ezcurra x Cubelli 8. Isa x Bruni 7. Kremer 6. Matera 5. Paulos x Alemanno 4. Petti 3. Medrano x Gómez Kodela 2. Montoya 1. Vivas x Tetaz Chaparro
WEST
Roar Guru
It’s any ones guess with the current All Blacks! We might see them go down twice to Argentina at home! Unheard of.. There’s no confidence, no composure, no consistency.. Wait! They are consistent at being inconsistent. Will we see another record for the books, the puma’s winning twice in New Zealand, the land of Rugby! If i don’t see the All Blacks empty the tanks and actually play like professionals im going to be very angry. They thought NZ public was bad before. Losing again at home to Argentina won’t be tolerated. If Foster doesn’t walk.. he’ll be dragged kicking and screaming! Whoever makes mistakes in that game.. Good luck walking the streets of Aotearoa without a disguise. It will get very ugly
Atlas
Roar Rookie
No other options – he was named in the 36-player squad for this series, think only injury would allow for someone else to be included. But as i mentioned elsewhere, I wouldn’t have had him there at all
Bob
Guest
The Aussies will smash the All Backs