Razor has resisted the urge to start Will Jordan at 15 on his return to the All Blacks set-up, instead picking in-form Beauden Barrett in the 15 jumper as Sevu Reece and Mark Tele’a once again start on the wings.
Anton Lienert-Brown replaces Rieko Ioane in midfield, and he starts alongside Jordie Barrett in the centres while TJ Perenara returns to the side at scrum-half, with Damian McKenzie again named at fly-half.
In the pack, Ardie Savea skippers the side from number eight, with Dalton Papali’i and Ethan Blackadder named on the flanks. Sam Darry comes in for injured captain Scott Barrett, and he partners Tupou Vaa’i at lock.
The front-row has a familiar feel to it, as Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Tyrel Lomax retain their spots.
All Blacks v Argentina Preview: Scott Robertson’s Men to Dominate Los Pumas Despite New Zealand’s ‘Obvious Weaknesses’
Felipe Contepomi has named his strongest Pumas side for the game though, as his team seek their third-straight win.
Juan Cruz Mallia starts at full-back, with Matias Moroni and Mateo Carreras named on the wings. Lucio Cinti and Santiago Chocobares again partner up in the centres, with Santiago Carreras starting at fly-half. Gonzalo Bertranou completes the backs division.
In the pack, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer and captain Pablo Matera form a formidable back-row. Pedro Rubiolo and Franco Molina start in the locks.
Rounding things off, Thomas Gallo and Eduardo Bello are named as loosehead and tighthead, with Ignacio Ruiz retaining his spot in the absence of Julian Montoya.
Four Key Storylines to Follow
There are plenty of talking points in this game though, and here is our breakdown of the four key storylines as the All Blacks face Argentina.
For the All Blacks, life under Robertson has got off to a good start, but they know they can improve. They avoided two scares against England, and weren’t quite at their fluent best. Things improved against Fiji in San Diego, but this Test against Argentina represents a really good opportunity to show what the true new New Zealand looks like.
If they can repeat the exploits of the Fiji clash with their full-strength side it will send a serious message throughout the Rugby Championship.
In a similar vain, Argentina come into this as a fairly unknown entity. They have put together two wins from three under Contepomi thus far, however they haven’t had a serious Test against a Tier One nation (France deployed a much-rotated team).
This will give us an understanding of where they are post-Michael Cheika, but importantly if they get a win it could lay down a serious marker of intent.
Richie Mo’unga Gives Verdict on Damian McKenzie and Makes ‘Really Dangerous’ Prediction for His All Blacks Successor
The outside centre position is causing a lot of headaches for Robertson since he took over as All Blacks boss. Ioane started both Tests against England, Billy Proctor was deployed to good effect against Fiji and now Lienert-Brown is named there for the clash against Argentina.
With the changes in this position, Lienert-Brown has a real chance to nail down a starting spot in this team. He has already amassed 73 caps for the All Blacks thus far, however only 41 of them have come in the starting XV (or 56%), and this gives him the perfect chance to recapture his place.
He will need a big game to fend off Proctor, but he impressed during the Fiji Test in the starting team and is more than capable as a 13. Could this be the start of a prolonged run in the squad?
The All Blacks Are Struggling in the Second Row But It Presents a Chance to Test New Combinations
The All Blacks are really struggling in the second-row, but this again gives them a good chance to try out new combinations to resolve the problem.
It was always going to be a tough ask to get replacements for Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, and they have already played five different players in the second-row under Robertson (Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipolotu, Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson and Darry), with four combinations starting in the three Tests as well.
They really need to find some stability in this area, as it would then allow them to build some continuity throughout their set-piece.
Jordan’s Return From the Bench Is Great News for the All Blacks
Jordan is a special talent, and his return to the All Blacks 23 is certainly a welcome one for many fans. He has been deployed on the wing for the entirety of his international career, but under Robertson we will see him utilised in his preferred position of full-back.
He has featured in the 15 jumper for the majority of his club career, and has been a quality player during the Crusaders reign over Super Rugby. Jordan has scored 38 tries in 52 appearances at club level, and is a consistent attacking threat in the back-field too.
What’s even more important is the fact he did this under the Robertson attacking system, which is trying to embed itself into the All Blacks style too. We’ve already seen the importance of a pacey full-back in the England and Fiji Tests from Beauden Barrett, and Jordan could be just as effective in this role.
He will still be rusty following his lengthy spell on the sidelines, but coming off the bench against Argentina will be a great way to bring him back into the fold.
## All Blacks v Argentina: A Sprinkling of Los Pumas in a Combined XV for Rugby Championship Clash
All Blacks Star Will Jordan Could Be Making His Return to Top Level Rugby This Weekend
Whispers out of the All Blacks camp suggest there may be some tweaks in selection and this week’s Razor Watch looks at what could change.
## Richie Mo’unga on His Brutal Meeting With Scott Robertson That Changed His Mindset
The 30-year-old was still playing high school rugby for Linwood when the current All Blacks head coach went to watch one of his matches from the sidelines.
Mo’unga had a stunning game in front of Robertson and the duo would go on to enjoy remarkable success at the Crusaders.
However, the playmaker might not have succeeded in the sport had he not taken on Robertson’s rather forthright advice from that day.
“It was 2013, we played High School Old Boys just down the road. Linwood were a struggling team. We had some good players but we could never beat any good sides,” Mo’unga told The Good, The Bad & The Rugby Australia & New Zealand podcast.
“I ended up having this unreal match; a couple of tries, try-saving tackles, kicked some goals and we beat High School Old Boys, who were such a good team. I walk off the field with my chest puffed out and my head high.
“Razor was at the game and pulled me aside and told me to come over. I thought, ‘man, this is going to be good’, and boy was I wrong!
“I missed a tackle, five-metre scrum out and Rob Thompson bowled me over and scored, and he said: ‘You know that tackle you missed, you better f*****g make those tackles. You’re not going to make my team if you do that.’
“I’ve just gone from up here [to down there]. He’s telling me this and I’m looking down. I will always remember it so clearly, he said: ‘Look at me when I talk to you!’
“My head’s down and the distance between us felt miles, with me having to look up and into his eyes as he said that to me. He just said: ‘You need to be brave, put your head in a hard place.’”
All Blacks Team Winners and Losers as ‘Ruthless’ Scott Robertson Makes Big Calls but Key Pack Decision Could ‘Prove Costly’
Although Mo’unga was rather brutally taken down a peg by Robertson on that day, it had the desired effect according to the fly-half.
The playmaker’s record speaks for itself, with the 30-year-old going on to enjoy a remarkable career, but it was potentially only possible because of the influence of the new All Blacks head coach.
“It always stuck with me. Even now, I play and you’ve just got to do it. You’ve got to put your head in there,” he added.
“If he knows that you’ve given it your all, you’ve done everything you can… but he won’t settle for a weak arm or you ushering someone to the try-line, and that’s what I did that day, which was pretty humbling.
“It was an awesome experience, Razor hasn’t changed since then. Who he is, is who he’s been forever. He hasn’t changed with whatever team he’s coached.
“What you see is what you get, but he demands a lot from his players. In return, he will give you a lot, he will give you everything you need to succeed as a player.”
## All Blacks v Argentina Preview: Scott Robertson’s Men to Dominate Los Pumas Despite New Zealand’s ‘Obvious Weaknesses’
The great All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo’unga is a big fan of England’s Marcus Smith.
Richie Mo’unga Has Cast His Eye Over Damian McKenzie, Who Has Succeeded the Former Crusaders Star in the All Blacks Fly-Half Jersey
## Scott Robertson Has Spoken About the Importance of the All Blacks' Replacements
