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Reserve hooker Codie Taylor has been replaced by Dane Coles for the Rugby Championship test against Argentina in Hamilton on Saturday night.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has made no changes to his starting team for the test against Argentina in Hamilton on Saturday night.
However, Foster has made four changes to his bench after the 25-18 defeat to Argentina in Christchurch last weekend.
One of the most notable omissions was hooker Codie Taylor after he suffered the yips with his lineout throwing when he replaced Samisoni Taukei’aho early in the second half of the match at Orangetheory Stadium.
Taylor has been replaced by veteran Dane Coles. Taukei’aho will, once again, start at hooker.
First five-eighths Beauden Barrett and lock Brodie Retallick have also been brought in to provide cover as they make their 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.
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.
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, having won and lost to the Springboks in South Africa last month.
“We are obviously looking to build parts of our game and this week is another chance to do that,” Foster said.
“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.”
Foster has retained openside flanker Sam Cane as his captain for the fixture at FMG Stadium Waikato.
Cane’s form and leadership has been subject to intense scrutiny this year, a reflection of the All Blacks losing four of their six tests under his control this year. On Sunday former All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan called for the skipper to be replaced by Papali’i.
The All Blacks sit third on the Rugby Championship table on 5 points, behind Argentina and Australia (9 points). South Africa, with one win from three matches, are fourth on 4 points.
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 (captain)
6 Shannon Frizell
5 Scott Barrett
4 Sam Whitelock
3 Tyrel Lomax
2 Samisoni Taukei’aho
1 Ethan de Groot
Reserves:
16 Dane Coles
17 George Bower
18 Fletcher Newell
19 Brodie Retallick
20 Dalton Papali’i
21 Finlay Christie
22 Beauden Barrett
23 Quinn Tupaea
– More to come
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