Selectors make four changes to All Black squad including the return of Sam Cane.
All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson and his co-selectors, Assistant Coaches Scott Hansen, Jason Holland, Leon MacDonald and Jason Ryan have named their All Blacks team to play Argentina in the second match of the 2024 Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship at Eden Park in Auckland
Four changes to the starting side and the return of veteran loose forward Sam Cane to the reserves are the features of the All Blacks match day 23 named to play Argentina at Eden Park.
There are three changes in the backline where wings Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan start on the left and right wings respectively and Rieko Ioane reclaims the No.13 jersey.
It will be Jordan’s first start of the season after returning via the reserves against Argentina in Wellington from a shoulder injury that had kept him out of the first three Tests of the year. The 26-year-old will wear the No.14 jersey for the 26th time, while Clarke returns to the squad after a standout performance against Fiji in San Diego in July.
Ioane will start at centre with Anton Lienert-Brown moving to the reserves where he’ll provide impact for the backs alongside wing Mark Tele’a and halfback Cortez Ratima.
The starting forward pack has just one change with Tamaiti Williams gaining his third Test start at loose head prop in place of Ethan de Groot, who is having a neck injury assessed. Willams’ previous Test starts came during the All Blacks 47-5 win over Fiji in San Diego and against Australia during a 23-20 win in Dunedin in 2023.
The side will again be led by Captain Ardie Savea from No.8 with Dalton Papali’i and Ethan Blackadder completing the loose trio. Cane comes into the match day 23 for the first time in 2024 and will have the opportunity to add to his 95 Test caps from the reserves.
All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson said: “We’ve reflected deeply on our performance and our preparation individually and collectively is something we have all owned. Our intent and focus has shifted solely to Eden Park.”
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets)
1. Tamaiti Williams (8)
2. Codie Taylor (88) (Vice Captain)
3. Tyrel Lomax (35)
4. Tupou Vaa’i (29)
5. Sam Darry (2)
6. Ethan Blackadder (12)
7. Dalton Papali’i (35)
8. Ardie Savea (85) (Captain)
9. TJ Perenara (83)
10. Damian McKenzie (51)
11. Caleb Clarke (21)
12. Jordie Barrett (61) (Vice Captain)
13. Rieko Ioane (72)
14. Will Jordan (32)
15. Beauden Barrett (127)
16. Asafo Aumua (10)
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (60)
18. Fletcher Newell (17)
19. Josh Lord (5)
20. Sam Cane (95)
21. Cortez Ratima (3)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (74)
23. Mark Tele’a (12)
Unavailable due to injury: Ethan de Groot (neck). Scott Barrett (finger surgery), Patrick Tuipulotu (calf), Stephen Perofeta (calf), Luke Jacobson (hamstring).
