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All Blacks boost bench experience in latest team naming

LOWER HUTT, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 12: Brodie Retallick looks on during a New Zealand All Blacks training session at Hutt Recreation Ground on July 12, 2022 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

All Blacks coach Ian Foster isn’t budging on his vision for the All Blacks squad, as is confirmed by this weeks team naming.

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Again, the All Blacks named the same starting 15 from their previous two tests – games which despite continuity in selection, produced very different results.

The bench sees Brodie Retallick make his return from injury, after a strong recovery from a broken cheekbone suffered in the Irish series.

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Also returning from injury is Beauden Barrett, who was rested last week after experiencing neck soreness. The All Black veteran comes in for his Blues team-mate Stephen Perofeta, who managed only 50 seconds of game time in his All Black debut in Christchurch.

Also on the bench, Dalton Papali’i and Dane Coles come in for Akira Ioane and Codie Taylor. Both players who struggled to deliver any positive impact off the bench last week, with Taylor having his worst performance in the black jersey, making a crucial line-out error in the games final moments and securing the win for Argentina.

The All Blacks coach last week asked New Zealand for patience, emphasising the teams “rebuilding” status. The comments amplified anticipation for the team naming this week, with pundits interpreting a rebuild as an opportunity for new players to get their shot at the black jersey.

Instead, the consistency in selection suggests that the building of combinations and cohesion within the team is the focus within the camp.

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All Blacks team for Argentina:

  1. Ethan De Groot
  2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
  3. Tyrel Lomax
  4. Sam Whitelock
  5. Scott Barrett
  6. Shannon Frizell
  7. Sam Cane
  8. Ardie Savea
  9. Aaron Smith
  10. Richie Mo’unga
  11. Caleb Clarke
  12. David Havili
  13. Rieko Ioane
  14. Will Jordan
  15. Jordie Barrett
    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
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Comments

4 Comments
B
Brett 795 days ago

3 sevens in the team again it doesn’t work

B
Brett 795 days ago

Foster is in denial about cane he’s not good enough for test rugby period. His refusal to give younger players a go must be having a negative impact within the team knowing your only there to hold the tackle bags. I’m an smith fan but he has become 1 dimensional under foster. Blaming akira and other subs for the last 15 minutes last week is ridiculous it’s hard to have an impact when the so called experience hooker can’t hit his jumpers oh and you basically don’t get much time on the field to make a difference

G
Greg 796 days ago

This ex Chiefs coach was never going to be brave enough to sack his Chiefs captain for a home game in Hamilton! A pity, because that last glorious 10 minutes or so at Ellis Park, full of impassioned leadership and accuracy, was all achieved while Cane was off the field. Foster's stubbornness in persevering with his first and worst selection - his skipper - could be seen as honourable...As long as Foster stays honourable and resigns if they don't win well on Saturday.

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Nickers 20 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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