The All Blacks and Pumas kick-off the unprecedented double-header action on the Gold Coast. New Zealand coach Ian Foster has warned his team to expect a tough workout from Argentina.
Although the All Blacks and South Africa have secured two wins each so far in the Fortinet Rugby Championship, the All Blacks sit on top of the ladder courtesy of two try-scoring bonus points, compared to just one by South Africa. While securing a victory over the Pumas on Sunday will be foremost in the minds of the All Blacks, doing so with a try-scoring bonus point (achieved when scoring three or more tries than your opposition) will ensure they keep a lead over South Africa on the points table – and could prove crucial in determining who lifts the trophy at the conclusion of the tournament.
30-year-old lock Brodie Retallick will become the All Blacks 71st Test captain when he leads the team out at Cbus Stadium on Sunday. All Blacks coach Ian Foster said he was delighted to name Retallick as the captain for this Test.
The coach also made six changes to his starting line-up, saying he wanted the team to be fresh and excited about facing Los Pumas in the tournament third round.
In the starting front row, hooker Asafo Aumua will be making his first Test start, alongside Karl Tu’inukuafe, who comes in for George Bower, and Nepo Laulala. Prop Joe Moody will make his eagerly-awaited return to the national side via the bench after undergoing foot surgery this year. Tyrel Lomax is the other reserve prop, coming into the 23 for his third Test of the year. Samisoni Taukei’aho is the reserve hooker.
In the second row, Scott Barrett will once again start alongside Retallick, with Tupou Vaa’i again the reserve lock. In the loose forwards, Luke Jacobson comes in at number eight for his third Test start of the year, alongside Akira Ioane at six and Dalton Papalii in the seven jersey. Ethan Blackadder will once again provide loose forward impact from the bench.
In the backs, TJ Perenara starts at halfback with Brad Weber reserve, and Beauden Barrett is at 10 in his 95th Test. David Havili and Anton Lienert-Brown are again the midfield pairing, George Bridge will start on the left-wing, with Sevu Reece coming in on the right and Jordie Barrett is again at fullback. Damian McKenzie and Rieko Ioane are the back reserves.
All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said: “We’ve had a great build-up in Perth and we’re looking forward to getting to Queensland to finish our preparation. The key to selection this week has been about managing the player workload across the whole squad, which I think all teams will be doing in the Championship. We want to ensure we have a fresh, excited squad ready to play a physical and passionate Argentinian team.
“They’ve had a tough time on the road with matches in Europe and South Africa before coming to Australia. But we know from last year that when they spend a lot of time together it really unifies them, so we’re expecting a torrid game.”
Foster said he was delighted to name Brodie Retallick as the captain for this Test. “Brodie is a great leader in this team and we don’t take his leadership for granted. We think this is a great honour for him, and he and his family can be hugely proud. He's playing really well and leads from the front. He has come back into the black jersey this year and just picked up where he left off.
“He also has an experienced partner in Beaudy (Barrett) alongside him who is bringing a calmness to the team and a sense of direction and we’re seeing that in the way he plays.”
Argentina has recalled Nicolas Sanchez at flyhalf as the Pumas will be looking to repeat last year's history-making victory over the All Blacks.
The experienced playmaker scored all of the points in Sydney last season when Argentina beat New Zealand for the first time but was dropped in favour of Domingo Miotti for the second Test against South Africa last month.
Despite being listed as suffering from an abdominal injury last week, Sanchez was on Friday included in Mario Ledesma's starting side for the Puma's third match of the campaign.
The change was one of seven to the side that lost the second of two consecutive matches against the world champions in Port Elizabeth.
Santiago Carreras, who played both Tests against the Springboks, misses out because of a calf strain and will be replaced on the left wing by Santiago Cordero.
Matias Moroni returns from injury at outside centre and Bautista Delgay replaces sevens flyer, Ignacio Mendy, on the right-wing.
In the pack, Guido Petti moves from flanker to lock with Marcos Kremer coming into the back row. Facundo Gigena and Santiago Medrano will be the starting props after Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and Francisco Gomez Kodela returned to their clubs.
Scrumhalf Gonzalo Garcia could win his first cap off the bench, while 37-year-old replacement prop Carlos Muzzio will get another taste of test rugby after making his debut against the Springboks last month.
Mario Ledesma, Head Coach of Los Pumas said: "The objectives for this Sunday are to control the game in the areas that we can control, impose our game plan and obviously that begins with retaining possession."
"We have to play the game we want to play. New Zealand invites you to play a rhythm that sometimes only they can play."
Julián Montoya, Captain of Los Pumas said: “The week has been very good, we have been locked up for two weeks preparing for the game and being very self-critical. We always think about what we can improve and how we can be better”.
“New Zealand, South Africa and Australia take you to the limit and this is great, but indiscipline is a matter of 100% concentration, we have to adjust that, which was the biggest deficit in the last two games. It is difficult to compete when we’re not disciplined.”
“The set pieces are fundamental, in this game and in all, where obtaining of the ball is essential. The way to be better for us is by working hard, there are no magic formulas, there are no shortcuts, you have to work and we are doing that, always trying to be better, being self-critical and training a lot.”
New Zealand: 15. Jordie Barrett, 14. Sevu Reece, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 12. David Havili, 11. George Bridge, 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. TJ Perenara, 8. Luke Jacobson, 7. Dalton Papalii, 6. Akira Ioane, 5. Scott Barrett, 4. Brodie Retallick (c), 3. Nepo Laulala, 2. Asafo Aumua, 1. Karl Tu’inukuafe. Replacements: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Joe Moody, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Tupou Vaa’i, 20. Ethan Blackadder, 21. Brad Weber, 22. Damian McKenzie, 23. Rieko Ioane.
Argentina: 15. Juan Cruz Mallia, 14. Bautista Delguy, 13. Matias Moroni, 12. Jeronimo De la Fuente, 11. Santiagio Cordero, 10. Nicolas Sanchez, 9. Gonzalo Bertranou, 8. Rodrigo Bruni, 7. Marcos Kremer, 6. Pablo Matera, 6. Pablo Matera, 5. Matias Alemanno, 4. Guido Petti, 3. Santiago Medrano, 2. Julian Montoya (c), 1. Facundo Gigena, . Replacements: 16. Facundo Bosch, 17. Carloe Muzzio, 18. Enrique Pieretto, 19. Tomas Lavanini, 20. Juan Martin Gonzalez Samso, 21. Gonzalo Garcia, 22. Santiago Chocobares, 23. Emiliano Boffelli.