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All Blacks boost bench experience in latest team naming
By Ned Lester
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.
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:
- Ethan De Groot
- Samisoni Taukei’aho
- Tyrel Lomax
- Sam Whitelock
- Scott Barrett
- Shannon Frizell
- Sam Cane
- Ardie Savea
- Aaron Smith
- Richie Mo’unga
- Caleb Clarke
- David Havili
- Rieko Ioane
- Will Jordan
- Jordie Barrett
Reserves - Dane Coles
- George Bower
- Fletcher Newell
- Brodie Retallick
- Dalton Papali’i
- Finlay Christie
- Beauden Barrett
- Quinn Tupaea
3 sevens in the team again it doesn’t work
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
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.
You are right mate, the All Blacks set-up looks fractured, disdained and shellacked by that loss to the Los Pumas. The failure to blend new and fresh blood into the team may be catastrophic heading to the RWC. If All Blacks contemplate winning the RWC with this coaching set-up and stubbornness, they are up for a shock. Sam Cane and Sam Whitelock need a rest, get Dalton, Hoskins, RTS, Perofeta, Fakatava game time. Smith is in his twilight years and should be benched. Tupea is not up to the task for test rugby.