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All Blacks coach Ian Foster has stuck with an old favourite by including Beauden Barrett over Super Rugby’s form fullback for the Test against Argentina in Mendoza.
Barrett has effectively slipped to third on the rankings of All Blacks No.10s with Damian McKenzie winning the start over Richie Mo’unga two weeks after the pair faced off in the Super Rugby final.
DMac’s comeback – after a stint in Japan – for the first time in two years gives him the early chance to stake a claim on the jersey ahead of the World Cup – although it would be no surprise to see the roles reversed with benched Mo’unga against the Springboks in a week’s time.
The selection that will agitate the Foster sceptics is the decision to leave out Stevenson. The Chiefs star scored 11 tries in 17 games this season but was overlooked for the All Blacks’ first squad of 2023 before winning a late call up to camp as injury cover for Mark Telea.
Foster made it clear he wanted to see more in defence from Stevenson when he named the initial squad without the Chief fullback in it.
“We’ve seen a massive improvement in the defensive structural stuff – the tackle and the contact work – but we still want to see a bit more in that space,” Foster said.
“The fact he’s going to come in and be with us, maybe for those first two Tests, is a great opportunity to get a good read of that.”
Stevenson was again a talking point on Friday when he missed selection, especially in the absence of Will Jordan.
Shaun Stevenson of the Chiefs. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)
“He featured in the discussion, and we decided to go somewhere else,” Foster said. “I have been impressed with Shaun since he came in. Sometimes it’s good for people to come in and get a feel of the space they are in here, and to learn.
“That is all we really ask of all our squad members. He has done everything we have asked of him. Did he feature in the conversation? Yes, he did.”
He was more effusive about the impact McKenzie has made.
“He’s just playing really well,” Foster said.
“He’s been out of the All Blacks for a year, and I am so impressed by the way he’s come back.
“The best way to get him back feeling like he can contribute and be a part of this team, and give him his best chance to show how he can play for us, was to give him that opportunity when he was feeling confident and things were going well for him.
“We have clearly got Beauden at fullback, and Richie at 10. So we have a bit of a luxury there at the moment. It is just a nice vote of confidence in Damian.
“When you have been out of the All Blacks for a while, there is always a bit of nerves. And I think this is a great way for him to come in, and hopefully play from a position of strength.”
McKenzie said he hadn’t been expecting the decision.
“It’s exciting,” McKenzie said. “Obviously stoked and probably didn’t expect it at first. Obviously, we’ve got Rich (Mo’unga) and Baz (Beauden Barrett) who had a great year.
“I had a bit of game time this year with the Chiefs so to get that opportunity is great.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s exciting being over here in Argentina too and it’s going to be an exciting challenge getting in that 10 jersey.”
McKenzie said he was aware of how it would be to retain the jersey through to the RWC – or even next weekend.
“Being given that opportunity, we’ve still got Richie (and) Baz playing good rugby so I wouldn’t say the jersey is mine whatsoever but it is an opportunity,” McKenzie said.
“For me it’s just about playing my game. Obviously, we’ve got a game plan but you just want to be yourself, be instinctive, and play the rugby that I tried to play all year.
“That’ll be what I try to do on Saturday, just do my job, and like I said it’s an opportunity so I’ll try to make the most of that.”
McKenzie added that his game has “probably matured” since he was last in the All Blacks jersey.
“Probably since my first crack a few years back now, my game has probably matured a little more than what it has been in the past,” he said.
“Probably used to run myself into trouble a bit and put the team under a bit of pressure.
“I’ve learned that kicking is a big part of being a playmaker and having that experience this year with the Chiefs as well has been great.
Prop Lucio Sordoni will make his first appearance for Argentina in almost three years in an otherwise settled team named by Cheika.
Sordoni, 24, has three caps and last played a Test against New Zealand in 2020. He spent 14 months out of the game through injury, but gets a chance to stake a claim for a place in Cheika’s Rugby World Cup squad.
Otherwise, the team has a familiar look to it. Fullback Emiliano Boffelli continues his run of playing every Test since Australian Cheika took over and will be key with the boot.
Santiago Carreras has been preferred to Nicolas Sanchez at five-eighth and the team will be captained by hooker Julian Montoya.
Cheika is missing suspended Marcos Kremer who will sit out the entire Rugby Championship.
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Argentina have beaten the All Blacks twice in the last three years, though both those matches were away in neutral Australia and last season in New Zealand. They have yet to record a win over them on home soil.
“They’re a quality team,” Foster said. “They’ve been developing their game and they’ve got a great desire to attack.
“If you don’t really commit in terms of your defensive line then you struggle with them.
“We know that they’re really willing around the breakdown and that’s kind of where the battle often is against Argentina.
“We’re aware of that and respectful of that because we’ve learned the lessons.”
All Blacks 1-15: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Josh Lord, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Beauden Barrett.
Replacements: 16. Codie Taylor, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Nepo Laulala, 19. Tupou Vaa’i, 20. Dalton Papali’i, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Richie Mo’unga, 23. Braydon Ennor.
Argentina 15-1: Emiliano Boffelli, Bautista Delguy, Matias Moroni, Lucio Cinti, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou, Rodrigo Bruni, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Lucio Sordoni, Julian Montoya (capt), Thomas Gallo
Replacements: Augustin Creevy, Mayco Vivas, Eduardo Bello, Pedro Rubiolo, Sanriago Grondona, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matias Orlando.