Head Coach Scott Robertson tells his All Blacks pack to earn their ‘redemption’
Head coach Scott Robertson has kept virtually the same pack which was outmuscled in Wellington but revamped his backline. He makes three changes in the backs plus one enforced injury switch in the forwards, where prop Tamaiti Williams replaced neck-injury victim Ethan de Groot.
“I think for every All Black forward pack, after a result like that, it’s a chance for a bit of redemption. And, you know, they’ve owned it,” Robertson said Thursday. Prolific try-scorer Will Jordan replaces Sevu Reece on the right wing in his first Test start since last year’s World Cup after shoulder surgery.
Caleb Clarke takes over on the left wing from Auckland Blues teammate Mark Tele’a. Experienced Blues centre Rieko Ioane is being recalled in place of Anton Lienert-Brown. Until Highlanders prop De Groot dropped out, Robertson had been planning to field the same starting forwards who were outplayed by the more committed Pumas pack last week.
“Look, we learned a lot last weekend, we all did. They’ve got to go and put it into action. That’s been our focus.” Former All Blacks captain Sam Cane is recalled to the bench despite the 32-year-old flanker’s plan to retire from international rugby at the end of this year, to take up a Japanese club contract with Suntory Sungoliath.
Cane’s last Test was as skipper in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final last October, when he was shown a red card for a high tackle in the 12-11 loss to South Africa in Paris. Robertson said he wanted Cane to provide a sense of calm late in the game, drawing on his 95 international appearances, something the All Blacks boss felt was lacking in Wellington when they squandered an early lead.
“Calmness is something Sam has got in his game,” added Robertson, saying the openside knows how to give “great messages at the right time.”
Argentina Shake Up their Squad – No place for Wellington match-winner Creevy
Argentina have made three changes to their starting side, including the return of skipper Julian Montoya, who missed the first Test with a rib injury. Montoya reclaims the captaincy from Pablo Matera and demotes hooker Ignacio Ruiz to the bench. This means there is no room in the squad for 39-year-old Agustin Creevy, who scored the decisive late try at Sky Stadium in a barnstorming display off the bench.
Montoya has vowed not to let Creevy down. “Of course ‘Gus is an inspiration and he helped me throughout my career so I’m going to be grateful for that forever,” Montoya said. “I have the opportunity to bring fresh legs and give everything for the team.” Glasgow prop Lucio Sordoni replaces Eduardo Bello while Perpignan No.8 forward Joaquin Oviedo is promoted from the bench, pushing Marcos Kremer to lock and Franco Molina to the bench.
Having beaten France at home in Argentina, then New Zealand away in Wellington, Los Pumas have posted back-to-back wins over Tier One nations. The last time they posted a longer streak was in 2007, when they beat hosts France, Ireland and Scotland at the Rugby World Cup before losing to eventual winners South Africa in the semi-finals.
Snapping the All Blacks phenomenal unbeaten run at Eden Park and posting back-to-back defeats over New Zealand for the first time would herald one of the greatest moments in Argentina rugby history.