Wing Tele’a Back For Semi – New Zealand Name Team To Play Argentina

 

Head coach Ian Foster has named his New Zealand match-day 23 for Friday's Rugby World Cup 2023 semi-final against Argentina in Saint-Denis, with left-wing Mark Tele'a (pictured) back in the starting XV for Leicester Fainga'anuku after being dropped for disciplinary reasons for the quarter-final win over Ireland. Sam Whitelock comes into the second row as a straight swap for Brodie Retallick, who moves to the bench where replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho joins him, as Dane Coles drops out.

There are 12 survivors in the match-day team from their RWC 2019 semi-final loss against England, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Anton Lienert-Brown, Codie Taylor and captain Sam Cane. 
Five players in the match-day team have reached an RWC final, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett and Sam Cane in 2015, and Sam Whitelock in 2011 and 2015. Whitelock is looking to become the first player in RWC history to reach three finals.

All Blacks: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 5 Scott Barrett, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane (c), 8 Ardie Savea, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 11 Mark Tele'a, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Will Jordan, 15 Beauden Barrett. Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Brodie Retallick, 20 Dalton Papali'i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.