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All Blacks coach Ian Foster responded to last weekend’s 24-22 against Australia with sweeping changes for Saturday night’s test against Argentina at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney.
The All Blacks hope to bounce back in the third round of the Tri-Nations against the Pumas, who are playing their first round of 2020, and welcome Richie Mo’unga and Joe Moody in the first five eighths and loose end respectively.
The last meeting between the two nations was before last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan and the All Blacks edged Argentina 20-16 in Buenos Aires.
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The All Blacks welcome Richie Mo’unga to the starting team for Saturday’s test against Argentina.
Mo’unga rested against Australia in Brisbane, but his return, after an excellent performance when the All Blacks defeated the Wallabies to retain the Bledisloe Cup in Sydney two weeks ago, reinstates him at No. 10 and Beauden Barrett returns as fullback.
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Moody recovered from a concussion to replace Karl Tu’inukuafe as the loose-headed mainstay and Tyrel Lomax was promoted to tight-headed starter due to Ofa Tu’ungafasi’s three-game ban. Nepo Laulala has returned from paternity leave to provide props coverage with Alex Hodgman.
Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
Joe Moody is back for the All Blacks after a concussion ruled him out of the last two tests against Australia.
Also returning to start are Jack Goodhue, Caleb Clarke, Aaron Smith, Shannon Frizell and Dane Coles. Others who drop out include Ngani Laumape, Sevu Reece, TJ Perenara, Akira Ioane, Scott Barrett, Cullen Grace, and Will Jordan.
Smith returns, as expected, as a starting running back, but Perenara has lost his spot on the bench to Weber.
“We were very disappointed in the loss to Australia at the weekend, but we have learned many lessons from that match,” Foster said in a statement.
“Specifically, we need to be smarter in viewing space and executing our plan around that. We also want to continue to grow our work on the breakdown, both in attack and defense, as I think we are making great progress here.
The All Blacks have made changes to their back position and No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu is also returning through the bench.
Jordie Barrett returns to the right wing and Clarke returns to the left with Rieko Ioane falling to the bench with Damian McKenzie. Goodhue and Anton Lienert-Brown meet again in midfield.
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Nepo Laulala is back for the All Blakcs after paternity leave.
Up front, Frizell is back on the blind side flank, replacing Akira Ioane after his test debut last week, and he lines up in the back row alongside Ardie Savea and captain Sam Cane.
Patrick Tuipulotu has recovered from an illness and takes the place of Scott Barrett alongside Sam Whitelock in the second row. Tupou Vaa’i is still the reserve lock.
Coles is back as a starting hooker and Codie Taylor’s demotion to the bench forces Aumua out of 23.
TAKE A LOOK:
All the black people: Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (c), Shannon Frizell, Sam Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tyrel Lomax, Dane Coles, Joe Moody. Bookings: Codie Taylor, Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, Tupou Vaa’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Brad Weber, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.
