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All the action as the All Blacks take on Argentina in a must-win Tri Nations clash.
The All Blacks have made three changes to their starting lineup for Saturday’s Tri Nations rematch against Argentina, retaining an unchanged bottom line and most of the lineup that fell to a historic loss to the Pumas two weeks ago.
Akira Ioane will start on the blind side flank, Nepo Laulala comes in as a tight-headed mainstay and Scott Barrett replaces Patrick Tuipulotu in the second row in a selection that suggests adjustment rather than decisive response to recent losses.
Argentina have been much bolder, making 10 changes to the team that drew 15-15 with Australia last weekend and naming Lucas Paulos to make his test debut.
Nicolás Sánchez, who has scored 40 points in two Tri Nations games with a try, a conversion and 11 penalties, remains in the first five eighths but will be paired with a new teammate on the field, Felipe Ezcurra.
In a reorganization of the baseline, Emiliano Boffelli is on the back, Ramiro Moyano and Santiago Cordero on the wings and Jerónimo from la Fuenta and Juan Cruz Mallia in midfield.
Captain Pablo Matera and Marcos Kremer will combine with Facundo Isa in the backrow. Paulos joins Guido Petti in the second row, while Mayco Vivas and Santiago Medrano will prop up the scrum.
The All Blacks, particularly head coach Ian Foster and captain Sam Cane, have been under great pressure after the team’s first consecutive losses in nine years. A victory in Newcastle, north of Sydney, on Saturday could be enough to allow New Zealand to win the Three Nations title. A loss will jeopardize Foster’s job, and public opinion is already strongly against him.
“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.
“There is a real determination in the team to perform well, not only for ourselves, but also for our families and friends at home and in our country.”
Ioane was named ahead of Shannon Frizell in an effort to add another ball carrier and some punch in the break. The All Blacks failed to break a single line in their 25-15 loss to Argentina in Sydney two weeks ago and rarely did they make the profit line. The Pumas followed up with a 15-15 draw against Australia last weekend in Newcastle.
Barrett is a risky pick due to his poor disciplinary record, receiving a yellow card in the All Blacks’ 24-22 loss to Australia a week before the loss to the Pumas. The All Blacks’ discipline has been poor in recent games and Barrett will be under pressure to keep a cool head at Newcastle.
Will Jordan has been inducted into the bench along with Tuipulotu, whose demotion follows a poor performance in the opener against Argentina.
Powerful backrower Hoskins Sotutu has remained on the bench, despite calls for him to join the starting lineup to inject some power into New Zealand’s ball-carrying game. Foster’s selection can be seen as an admission that he has few players that he can inject to immediately improve the team’s performance.
Beauden Barrett has remained a fullback, although his form has been well below his best. His brother Jordie Barrett, named out of position on the right wing, looks like a better fullback in his current form.
Saturday’s test will be the All Blacks’ last in 2020 and could also be Foster’s last if they lose again. His record in his five head coach games since his appointment in December is two wins, two losses and a draw.
The standard of the All Blacks’ performances over the past two weeks has been affected by Foster, and Cane has also faced criticism for his lack of leadership. He made matters worse when he responded to criticism of the team’s performance by suggesting that All Blacks fans know nothing about rugby.
Match details:Saturday 28 November, 9.45pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Squads
All the black people: Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (captain), Akira Ioane, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Bookings: Codie Taylor, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, Patrick Tuipulotu, Hoskins Sotutu, TJ Perenara, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan.
Argentina: Emiliano Boffelli, Ramiro Moyano, Juan Cruz Mallia, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Santiago Cordero, Nicolas Sanchez, Felipe Ezcurra; Facundo Isa, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera (captain), Lucas Paulos, Guido Petti, Santiago Medrano, Julian Montoya, Mayco Vivas.
Bookings: Santiago Socino, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Lucio Sordoni, Matías Alemanno, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Bertranou, Santiago Carreras, Lucas Mensa.
Match history
Played: 30
Wins: All Blacks 28, Drawn 1, Argentina 1
Last time: Argentina 25, All Blacks 15 (November 14, 2020)
Possibilities
All the black people: $ 1.11
Argentina: $ 6.20
How to catch the action
the Herald will provide live updates and will have live interactive player ratings. You can watch live commentary of the match on Newstalk ZB, Gold AM and iHeartRadio.
The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 1, with coverage starting at 9:00 p.m. ACC comments will be available through the yellow button on Sky. If you want to watch the game online, you can stream it live on Sky Sport Now.
