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All Blacks back to full strength for Pumas

3 minute read

The All Blacks have named a full-strength team for their Tri-Nations clash with Argentina on Saturday in Sydney.

The All Blacks.
The All Blacks. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

New Zealand are back to full strength for their Tri-Nations clash with Argentina in Sydney on Saturday following their shock loss last round to the Wallabies when they left out a number of stars.

Restoring the bulk of the side that thumped Australia in the second and third Tests, the All Blacks named their first-choice halves combination of Richie Mo'unga and Aaron Smith, who sat out the Brisbane defeat, while barnstorming winger Caleb Clarke is also back in the line-up for the Bankwest Stadium clash.

"We've come off two pretty significant victories, and haven't been able to back those up," Foster said on Thursday.

"We were disappointed with how we played last week, so we felt we'd go back to those combinations that worked well at Eden Park and Sydney."

Among other changes, veteran prop Joe Moody returns after missing two Tests through concussion with Tyrel Lomax replacing suspended prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi.

Patrick Tuipulotu, who missed the Brisbane Test with illness, has been named in the second row.

Foster said he wanted to see a "smarter" performance from his troops, while they were expecting the Pumas to mount a strong opposition after only falling by four points to New Zealand last year.

"You only need to go back to Buenos Aires last year, when we had a real arm wrestle with them, to know how tough they can be," he said.

"They've been here a while and they've probably had something most international teams never have, which is about three weeks of really solid training and preparation.

"They've had two really solid games against Australia A, and have shown a lot of the shape and flair we've become accustomed to seeing from them.

"We're expecting a very well-organised team, and we've got to make sure they take a little while to adjust to the intensity of a Test match."

Argentina named Santiago Chocobares to debut in the centres, while outside back Lucio Centi and backrower Santiago Grondona are in line for their first Tests after being included on the bench.

Tomas Cubelli, who played two seasons with the Brumbies, and Nicolas Sanchez have been named in the halves.

Flanker Pablo Matera will again lead the side.

New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (capt), Shannon Frizell, Samuel Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tyrel Lomax, Dane Coles, Joe Moody. Res: Codie Taylor, Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, Tupou Vaa'i, Hoskins Sotutu, Brad Weber, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.

Argentina: Santiago Carreras, Bautista Delguy, Matias Orlando, Santiago Chocobares, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli, Rodrigo Bruni, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera (capt), Matias Alemanno, Guido Petti, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya, Nahuel Tetaz Chapparo. Res: Facundo Bosch, Mayco Vivas, Santiago Medrano, Santiago Grondona, Tomas Lezana, Gonzalo Bertranou, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Cordero.

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