The All Blacks will be looking to bounce back from last week’s loss to Argentina and keep their Rugby Championship hopes alive when they take on the Pumas again in Hamilton on Saturday at 08h35 (SA Time)
The All Blacks will be desperate to return to winning form in Hamilton. The loss in Christchurch was their second defeat in the Rugby Championship. The loss against Argentina (18-25) was the All Blacks' third in a row after two losses against Ireland in the 2022 Steinlager Series.
However, with the Rugby Championship at the halfway point, the competition has never been more open or unpredictable. All four teams are still in the running for the title with Argentina and Australia sitting on top with nine points. The All Blacks are in third place on five points with South Africa at the bottom on four points.
Such is the nature of the tournament this year, the table could completely flip this weekend if the All Blacks and South Africa both secured victories. All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett said: "It's a great competition this year, anyone can win on their day, and it's going to be an interesting few weeks to finish."
All Blacks selectors Ian Foster, Joe Schmidt and Jason Ryan have announced the match-day 23 for the second Test against Argentina at FMG Stadium in Hamilton.
The run-on side is again unchanged, while the first five-eighths Beauden Barrett and lock Brodie Retallick have been brought in to provide cover as they return from injury. The pair add 201 Test caps of experience between them, while Barrett is the most capped All Black against Argentina with 16 appearances.
Additional changes have been made to the reserves where hooker Dane Coles and loose forward Dalton Papali’i have been introduced as the All Blacks seek improvements heading into the second half of the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship.
“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 Lipovitan-D 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.”
The return of Barrett and Retallick means Stephen Perofeta and Tupou Vaa’i won’t be required to suit-up for this test.
Loose forward Dalton Papali’i has also added to the reserves, in place of Akira Ioane.
Foster, who survived a review by NZ Rugby last month, defended the decision to not make changes to the XV that started in Christchurch.
“For those who want blood, I guess we haven’t given it, have we?’’ Foster said. “But I guess the message is we have been pretty ruthless and hard on ourselves behind the scenes. We’re hurting, with where the team is at.
“If we dwell too much on that ... If you play under fear, you restrict your options, you restrict your thinking. And what actually happens is that you just don’t get the game going, the way you want to do it.’’
Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has made four changes to his line-up.
Lock Guido Petti, back-rower Santiago Grondona, halfback Tomas Cubelli and winger Santiago Cordero all are promoted from the bench to the starting 15.
"Ireland were able to do it (beat New Zealand) a couple of times this year so that give us some hope around how to look at doing it," Cheika said.
"When the challenge is big or situation in a game is tough that we try and thrive in that moment."
Teams:
All Blacks: 15. Jordie Barrett, 14. Will Jordan, 13. Rieko Ioane, 12. David Havili, 11. Caleb Clarke, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Ardie Savea, 7. Sam Cane (c), 6. Shannon Frizell, 5. Scott Barrett, 4. Sam Whitelock, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1. Ethan de Groot. Replacements: 16. Dane Coles, 17. George Bower, 18. Fletcher Newell, 9. Brodie Retallick, 20. Dalton Papali'i, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Beauden Barrett, 23. Quinn Tupaea.
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Santiago Lamb, 10 Santiago Races, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Santiago Grondonia, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Rooster. Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Eduardo Beautiful, 19 Matias German, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Benjamin Urdapiletta, 23 Lucio Cinti.
