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Scott Barrett (Getty Images)
Coach Ian Foster made three changes to his front pack on Thursday to face a new look Argentina As the All the black people They desperately seek to avoid the ignominy of a third consecutive defeat.
The three-time world champions have come under intense scrutiny from fans and experts following losses to Australia and the Pumas in back-to-back weeks during the Tri Nations.
If they fail to win on Saturday in Newcastle, north of Sydney, they will become the first New Zealand team to lose three in a row since 1998.
Foster, who faced calls for his elimination after just five games in charge, shuffled his package to deal with a 10-trade Argentine team that started the 15-15 tie with the Wallabies last weekend.
All Blacks mainstay Nepo Laulala enters the front row, with Tyrel Lomax on the bench, while lock Scott Barrett was preferred over Patrick Tuipulotu.
Loose forward Akira Ioane will start in jersey number 6, after his testing debut against Australia in Brisbane this month, in place of Shannon Frizell.
“We’ve had a great week building what will be a vital test for us,” said Foster.
“It’s exciting in the sense that we have a chance to redeem ourselves after our last game, and we also have a chance to win the Tri Nations.”
New Zealand’s goodbye last week gave them a chance to find out what went wrong in their 25-15 humiliation against the Pumas in Sydney a fortnight ago – their first loss to Argentina in 35 years.
That embarrassment followed the All Blacks crashing 24-22 against Australia.
Despite his team being undefeated at this year’s Tri Nations with a win and a draw thus far, Argentina’s coach Mario Ledesma chose to shake up his team after two tough encounters in so many weeks.
The only players remaining in their starting positions are playmaker and sniper Nicolás Sánchez, who has scored all 40 points so far, captain Pablo Matera, blocking Guido Petti, wing Marcos Kremer and veteran hooker Julian Montoya.
Equipment:
New Zealand
15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Jordie Barrett, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Sam Whitelock , 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Will Jordan
Argentina
15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Juan Cruz Mallia, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Mayco Vivas
Substitutes: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Santiago Grondona, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Lucas Mensa
